Well, this morning was full of good news for me.
First, I finally have an itinerary to get back home and should arrive in Memphis in the mid-afternoon on December 24th! I'm going to have quite a long couple of days getting out of here and getting there, but still, it's progress. My next blog entry should be from the Atlanta airport or even from home.
The second bit of good news is my #2 Tigers beat #5 Georgetown in basketball by 14 points (85-71) yesterday (last night for me so I didn't see the game). Whoo hoo! Looks like this team is living up to the hype and is set for one of their best starts in team history.
Not a bad way to begin my day. The unfortunate part of my day is still to come however as we begin the long, tedious process of customs, briefings, and just plain waiting around. To ensure no contraband gets back home from here, we begin our isolation process 12 hours before our flight. I only have a small carry on bag so customs shouldn't be too painful but from what I hear, this is the kind of inspection where they look through every item in your bag as well as x-ray and metal detect. I can't wait! However, at this point, going through such indignities means I'm one step closer to heading home.
Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
My travels continue…
I made it out no problem on the early morning flight and after a quick hour was safely in Kuwait. Next we had a gathering in a large tent and were told that our brief was at 0900 so we had 3 ½ hours to kill. But there’s more to the story; we couldn’t stay in the big tent, they were using it for another briefing later. So, now what? Nothing like being homeless on a strange base at 0530. I managed to kill time by turning in my body armor for temporary storage (shouldn’t need it back home I hope!), eating breakfast, and wandering around finding out where things were. That last part took about 10 minutes – it’s a small base. But, they do have some nice MWR tents with things to do, some fast food trailers, and a call center.
Eventually 0900 came and we filled out some forms, stood in line to make copies of our orders, were given a tent assignment, and told to either come back at 0730 tomorrow (not my group) or noon tomorrow (my group - cue ominous music). So, not just a morning to kill, but an entire day! At least I had a tent with a bunk (and ten of my closest friends) and was able to catch up on some sleep from the night before. I read a little, wandered around again just in case I’d overlooked some gem I’d missed earlier (nope), had Pizza Hut for lunch for a change of pace, and then went over to the DFAC for dinner.
Dinner was quite a pleasant surprise as I ran into two guys I’d gone through EWO training with when I started this whole adventure. They are assigned to Marine units and it was nice catching up and comparing notes with each other. Turns out, they’d been here since yesterday and were part of the 0730 group for tomorrow. After dinner, I went back to the big tent to see what I could find out.
Well, the 0730 group is flying out tomorrow; the noon group is flying out the next day (23rd – hence the ominous music earlier). So, not only did I have to kill today, but I’ll be here all day tomorrow, and hopefully (stress on the hopefully) will fly out on the evening of the 23rd to arrive in Atlanta on the morning of the 24th. It is a good thing I’ve pretty much finished my Christmas shopping!
I’m sure there will be more to come with this story. I certainly have plenty of time to write!
Cheers, Pearl
Eventually 0900 came and we filled out some forms, stood in line to make copies of our orders, were given a tent assignment, and told to either come back at 0730 tomorrow (not my group) or noon tomorrow (my group - cue ominous music). So, not just a morning to kill, but an entire day! At least I had a tent with a bunk (and ten of my closest friends) and was able to catch up on some sleep from the night before. I read a little, wandered around again just in case I’d overlooked some gem I’d missed earlier (nope), had Pizza Hut for lunch for a change of pace, and then went over to the DFAC for dinner.
Dinner was quite a pleasant surprise as I ran into two guys I’d gone through EWO training with when I started this whole adventure. They are assigned to Marine units and it was nice catching up and comparing notes with each other. Turns out, they’d been here since yesterday and were part of the 0730 group for tomorrow. After dinner, I went back to the big tent to see what I could find out.
Well, the 0730 group is flying out tomorrow; the noon group is flying out the next day (23rd – hence the ominous music earlier). So, not only did I have to kill today, but I’ll be here all day tomorrow, and hopefully (stress on the hopefully) will fly out on the evening of the 23rd to arrive in Atlanta on the morning of the 24th. It is a good thing I’ve pretty much finished my Christmas shopping!
I’m sure there will be more to come with this story. I certainly have plenty of time to write!
Cheers, Pearl
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Military Travel
Well, my R&R leave date is here. Unfortunately, I'm typing a blog entry instead of sitting on a plane. Let me bring you up to date starting back when the Earth cooled...
When I first came in the Navy, the USAF airlift command was called MAC - Military Airlift Command (Okay, so not quite as far back as when the Earth cooled). In the 1990s the Air Force went through a reorganization and MAC became AMC. AMC formally is called Air Mobility Command, however those of us in the military know it better as Aircraft Might Come.
The way travel works here is not exactly up to commercial carrier standards, as low as they've fallen in recent years. First, your parent command has to submit your name to be manifested - check. Then you have to show up at 10pm the night before your scheduled flight date to find out what flight you'll be on - check. A little after 10pm a very surly Soldier (or Airman, I couldn't see because we were standing outside in the dark and cold) falls us into formation. Then, we pass our ID cards to him (we being a few hundred of us or so) and he says he'll be back in about 30 minutes. Just under an hour later he comes out and begins calling out the last four digits of our social security number (keeps him from having to guess at pronouncing some of the names) - check. So he starts calling. And calling. And calling. Then, he tells those folks who have come up to claim their ID card, their flight is at 0600, be there at 0300, "And I don't care who you are, what rank you are, what your excuse is, if you're not here we're going to give your seat away."
He starts calling numbers again. And again. And again. Finally, he tells those folks their flight is at 1000, be there three hours prior or (insert previous quote here - he said it verbatim as if we hadn't just heard him a few minutes before). Finally he calls through the rest of us and tells us our flight is at 1400, etc., etc. Okay, that's not so bad. It's about 2330 by now but I get to go back to my room and get a good night's sleep, then a relaxed morning and off to the terminal (three hours prior - or else!). Check.
So, around 1015 I head over to the terminal. We wait around until 1130 for another formation and a much nicer Solider starts calling off names for the manifest (she used real names - like I said, she was much nicer than the guy from last night). So, she starts calling, and calling, and calling. Finally, she gets to the end of her list and there are about 20 of us still standing there - not check! She says the 0600 flight that morning was cancelled, those folks got rolled into the later flights and we were bumped to a new flight.
So, to wrap up an already long story, I now have to be back at 0030 for a 0330 flight to Kuwait.
I hope.
More to follow as the story unfolds, hopefully all written day after tomorrow from either Atlanta (my CONUS gateway) or from my own living room! The good news is the Army takes the R&R system seriously and doesn't start charging us for leave until we are home. So, all of these delays don't impact my 15 days with my family.
Cheers, Pearl
When I first came in the Navy, the USAF airlift command was called MAC - Military Airlift Command (Okay, so not quite as far back as when the Earth cooled). In the 1990s the Air Force went through a reorganization and MAC became AMC. AMC formally is called Air Mobility Command, however those of us in the military know it better as Aircraft Might Come.
The way travel works here is not exactly up to commercial carrier standards, as low as they've fallen in recent years. First, your parent command has to submit your name to be manifested - check. Then you have to show up at 10pm the night before your scheduled flight date to find out what flight you'll be on - check. A little after 10pm a very surly Soldier (or Airman, I couldn't see because we were standing outside in the dark and cold) falls us into formation. Then, we pass our ID cards to him (we being a few hundred of us or so) and he says he'll be back in about 30 minutes. Just under an hour later he comes out and begins calling out the last four digits of our social security number (keeps him from having to guess at pronouncing some of the names) - check. So he starts calling. And calling. And calling. Then, he tells those folks who have come up to claim their ID card, their flight is at 0600, be there at 0300, "And I don't care who you are, what rank you are, what your excuse is, if you're not here we're going to give your seat away."
He starts calling numbers again. And again. And again. Finally, he tells those folks their flight is at 1000, be there three hours prior or (insert previous quote here - he said it verbatim as if we hadn't just heard him a few minutes before). Finally he calls through the rest of us and tells us our flight is at 1400, etc., etc. Okay, that's not so bad. It's about 2330 by now but I get to go back to my room and get a good night's sleep, then a relaxed morning and off to the terminal (three hours prior - or else!). Check.
So, around 1015 I head over to the terminal. We wait around until 1130 for another formation and a much nicer Solider starts calling off names for the manifest (she used real names - like I said, she was much nicer than the guy from last night). So, she starts calling, and calling, and calling. Finally, she gets to the end of her list and there are about 20 of us still standing there - not check! She says the 0600 flight that morning was cancelled, those folks got rolled into the later flights and we were bumped to a new flight.
So, to wrap up an already long story, I now have to be back at 0030 for a 0330 flight to Kuwait.
I hope.
More to follow as the story unfolds, hopefully all written day after tomorrow from either Atlanta (my CONUS gateway) or from my own living room! The good news is the Army takes the R&R system seriously and doesn't start charging us for leave until we are home. So, all of these delays don't impact my 15 days with my family.
Cheers, Pearl
Monday, December 17, 2007
Technology
I was struck by the unreal nature of technology this weekend, how very science fiction-like our world has become. Take for example this blog. Here I am, in Baghdad, using a small laptop computer to post blogs via a wireless connection on the internet! I use instant messaging to real-time "chat" with my wife, e-mail to stay in touch with friends and family, and now I've discovered VOIP to be able to make calls over my internet using the built-in microphone on my computer to talk with my kids on the weekends. Simply amazing. And all this from a war zone!
I was talking with one of the younger Soldiers yesterday and it occurred to me, he'd never known a time without e-mail. He was laughing as I told him how, during my earlier deployments, my wife and I used to number our letters (written on paper and sent in an envelope) because mail out to the carrier was so hit and miss, letter number 11 might arrive before letter number 8. By numbering the letters, we could keep up with the news and know if we missed something referenced in a letter we hadn't yet received.
I will say, I like today's way of keeping in touch better than how I used to have it. There's something comforting about being able to read my hometown newspaper online, check my kids' grades through a web-access grading program, and keep in touch with the real world every day.
Cheers, Pearl
I was talking with one of the younger Soldiers yesterday and it occurred to me, he'd never known a time without e-mail. He was laughing as I told him how, during my earlier deployments, my wife and I used to number our letters (written on paper and sent in an envelope) because mail out to the carrier was so hit and miss, letter number 11 might arrive before letter number 8. By numbering the letters, we could keep up with the news and know if we missed something referenced in a letter we hadn't yet received.
I will say, I like today's way of keeping in touch better than how I used to have it. There's something comforting about being able to read my hometown newspaper online, check my kids' grades through a web-access grading program, and keep in touch with the real world every day.
Cheers, Pearl
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Sameness and routine
I’m not sure if this entry is going to make sense to someone who’s not here, but here I go anyway.
The thing that has made this tour the most difficult for me (other than separation from my family) is the sameness of the days. I need to caveat this with the fact that I’m not someone who goes out on a patrol every day, so other Soldiers might have a different perspective than I. But, day in and day out, each day is pretty much like the one before. I attend routine meetings, I work in the same relatively small area, I travel the same routes to eat, to church, to the PX, etc, and, except for the temperature, the environment offers little variation. We work long days and each day seems to be just like the one before.
So, what helps pass the time? Routines! (I told you this might not make sense.) It is odd, but for me, keeping routines helps pass the time. For example, the folks in my office and I eat lunch and dinner at the same times every day (except Sundays when we have a cookout for dinner). We exercise in the afternoon. Every three days we have “cycle of life” (laundry) that we drop off and pick up at lunch (they run on a 72 hour cycle so that’s what we use as well). My mornings are filled with the same meetings (roughly) every day which eats time until a little before lunch when I can get on my computer and get the due-outs from the meetings accomplished. And, amazingly enough, the days move by. Counting down the number of days until my tour is complete always seems a little depressing as the number of days goes down slowly and still seems like a lot of days. Having a routine schedule gives me intermediate goals throughout the day and week to look forward to. It is an interesting phenomenon for me: the days are long but the weeks are short. The weekend (Sunday being the only day that has a different schedule than the others with church, a trip to the PX to get a haircut or buy something I don’t need, and the dinner cookout) suddenly appears after what has seemed to be a short week full of long days.
As you might imagine, I am very much looking forward to breaking my routines with R&R. As a matter of fact, this time next week, I should be in transit home for 15 days of glorious leave!
Cheers, Pearl
The thing that has made this tour the most difficult for me (other than separation from my family) is the sameness of the days. I need to caveat this with the fact that I’m not someone who goes out on a patrol every day, so other Soldiers might have a different perspective than I. But, day in and day out, each day is pretty much like the one before. I attend routine meetings, I work in the same relatively small area, I travel the same routes to eat, to church, to the PX, etc, and, except for the temperature, the environment offers little variation. We work long days and each day seems to be just like the one before.
So, what helps pass the time? Routines! (I told you this might not make sense.) It is odd, but for me, keeping routines helps pass the time. For example, the folks in my office and I eat lunch and dinner at the same times every day (except Sundays when we have a cookout for dinner). We exercise in the afternoon. Every three days we have “cycle of life” (laundry) that we drop off and pick up at lunch (they run on a 72 hour cycle so that’s what we use as well). My mornings are filled with the same meetings (roughly) every day which eats time until a little before lunch when I can get on my computer and get the due-outs from the meetings accomplished. And, amazingly enough, the days move by. Counting down the number of days until my tour is complete always seems a little depressing as the number of days goes down slowly and still seems like a lot of days. Having a routine schedule gives me intermediate goals throughout the day and week to look forward to. It is an interesting phenomenon for me: the days are long but the weeks are short. The weekend (Sunday being the only day that has a different schedule than the others with church, a trip to the PX to get a haircut or buy something I don’t need, and the dinner cookout) suddenly appears after what has seemed to be a short week full of long days.
As you might imagine, I am very much looking forward to breaking my routines with R&R. As a matter of fact, this time next week, I should be in transit home for 15 days of glorious leave!
Cheers, Pearl
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
What is normal?
I've been watching "Band of Brothers" on DVD lately (one of my birthday presents). In one of the later episodes, there is a scene where hot showers are brought in to these men who have just come off the line after defending Bastogne and taking the town of Foy. As I was taking my nice hot shower this morning (like I do every morning), it occurred to me that I need to clarify what's "normal" around here.
I live on one of the largest military complexes in Iraq; it is actually a bunch of smaller bases all grouped together. There are four PXs I can think of (a large one near where I live and three smaller satellite shops) plus a Cinnabon, a Pizza Hut, a Taco Bell, a Popeye's Chicken, a Subway, a Burger King, and a Green Bean's Coffee (all of the food places are in trailers) scattered around. I am a relatively senior officer so I have a room to myself and share a bathroom with one other senior officer. I have wireless internet in my room. I work in a headquarters for a large unit and we have reasonably significant facilities. On major installations like this one junior folks have roommates and have to walk to a trailer with showers and toilets. So, even among those who live on this complex, I have things pretty well.
I say all of this to contrast with what many Soldiers here in Iraq in outlying posts live with day in and day out for 15 months. The outlying posts are small. Some have running toilets but many only have porta-potties or old fashioned burn toilets (the waste is burned in a 55 gal drum with diesel fuel). Food is prepared off site and brought in large plastic containers. As they are small, they are shelled and attacked more often than the major installations. There are no PXs, no specialty shops, no a lot of things. The Soldiers there run constant patrols and only rotate back to the larger installations a few days every couple of weeks or so. Also, the base they rotate back to still probably doesn't have all of the amenities of my installation. I think a conversation I overheard in the PX just down the road from my HQ sums it up pretty well. One dusty, skinny Specialist (E-4) while looking at the rack of fishing poles in the corner said to his buddy, "What the hell are these guys doing here that they have time to fish?!"
So, while I appreciate all of you who read my blog to get a glimpse of life here in Iraq, I feel obligated to tell the full story for all of us here as best I can. I think I read in Stars and Stripes that there are about 160,000 of us here right now. I would guess there are about 160,000 stories to tell about life here. Thank you for taking the time to read about one of them.
Cheers, Pearl
I live on one of the largest military complexes in Iraq; it is actually a bunch of smaller bases all grouped together. There are four PXs I can think of (a large one near where I live and three smaller satellite shops) plus a Cinnabon, a Pizza Hut, a Taco Bell, a Popeye's Chicken, a Subway, a Burger King, and a Green Bean's Coffee (all of the food places are in trailers) scattered around. I am a relatively senior officer so I have a room to myself and share a bathroom with one other senior officer. I have wireless internet in my room. I work in a headquarters for a large unit and we have reasonably significant facilities. On major installations like this one junior folks have roommates and have to walk to a trailer with showers and toilets. So, even among those who live on this complex, I have things pretty well.
I say all of this to contrast with what many Soldiers here in Iraq in outlying posts live with day in and day out for 15 months. The outlying posts are small. Some have running toilets but many only have porta-potties or old fashioned burn toilets (the waste is burned in a 55 gal drum with diesel fuel). Food is prepared off site and brought in large plastic containers. As they are small, they are shelled and attacked more often than the major installations. There are no PXs, no specialty shops, no a lot of things. The Soldiers there run constant patrols and only rotate back to the larger installations a few days every couple of weeks or so. Also, the base they rotate back to still probably doesn't have all of the amenities of my installation. I think a conversation I overheard in the PX just down the road from my HQ sums it up pretty well. One dusty, skinny Specialist (E-4) while looking at the rack of fishing poles in the corner said to his buddy, "What the hell are these guys doing here that they have time to fish?!"
So, while I appreciate all of you who read my blog to get a glimpse of life here in Iraq, I feel obligated to tell the full story for all of us here as best I can. I think I read in Stars and Stripes that there are about 160,000 of us here right now. I would guess there are about 160,000 stories to tell about life here. Thank you for taking the time to read about one of them.
Cheers, Pearl
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Friends
I went by to visit Toonces (of the Gritty Kitty Blog fame) the other day. I had found out by reading her blog she was here on VBC but it is such a large facility that often people you know might be here but if they don't live or work nearby, you never see them. Turns out she works right next door to one of my subordinate units on the other side of the base from me.
It was great seeing her again! We'd last parted ways in August as wide-eyed newbie EWOs heading off to the great unknown, and now, we are seasoned old-timers, sharing stories and frustrations and lessons learned from our time here. She's doing well and seems to be enjoying her job here as much as I do. If you were wondering about her extended absence from cyberspace, she's a victim of Army blog filtering (see one of my previous rants on that subject) and has had to develop a round about way of posting through e-mails to her mom. But, she's back up and online so please visit her site.
Many of the Navy guys I worked with when I first arrived are rotating back home soon. Like I said in reference to Toonces, my group of EWOs are about the be the "old guys" with all of the experience and knowledge. However, the guys who are going home in time for Christmas have taught us well and I'm sure that we'll be able to pass along the same level of instruction to the nuggets. While at the beginning these tours look so very long, once you're in the churn, it is sometimes surprising just how quickly time goes by.
Cheers, Pearl
It was great seeing her again! We'd last parted ways in August as wide-eyed newbie EWOs heading off to the great unknown, and now, we are seasoned old-timers, sharing stories and frustrations and lessons learned from our time here. She's doing well and seems to be enjoying her job here as much as I do. If you were wondering about her extended absence from cyberspace, she's a victim of Army blog filtering (see one of my previous rants on that subject) and has had to develop a round about way of posting through e-mails to her mom. But, she's back up and online so please visit her site.
Many of the Navy guys I worked with when I first arrived are rotating back home soon. Like I said in reference to Toonces, my group of EWOs are about the be the "old guys" with all of the experience and knowledge. However, the guys who are going home in time for Christmas have taught us well and I'm sure that we'll be able to pass along the same level of instruction to the nuggets. While at the beginning these tours look so very long, once you're in the churn, it is sometimes surprising just how quickly time goes by.
Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Rain and football
Well, the mythical rain I'd heard so much about finally came today...sorta. It rained for about 3 minutes as normal rain and another five or six as light rain early this morning. So, what we ended up with was enough rain to mix with the moon dust to make mud but not enough rain to wash everything down and clean it of accumulated dust - the worst of both worlds. Fortunately, except for a few puddles, the mud isn't too bad and is already starting to dry out to begin the dust cycle again.
It's not too hard to figure out I am not a Naval Academy graduate but rather received my commission through NROTC at the University of Memphis. I have been trying to tell all of the Army guys here at my unit that they can shout "Go Army, Beat Navy!" to their hearts' content but for me, it's just another football game. This last week leading up to the big game yesterday was the last straw as I received any number of videos and e-mails bashing the USNA. Well, after months of taking it as the only Naval Officer on the staff, I finally decided to embrace it all and took up for all of my fellow Canoe-U officers. Last night I wore my "Fly Navy" sweatshirt with pride and watched, with some sympathetic embarrassment I have to add, the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy absolutely destroy the Cadets of West Point 38-3. I have to say, today has been quite subdued around here. Thankfully, both this unit and I will be able to watch next year's game at home.
Lastly, speaking of football again, Troy lost their final game of the season to Florida Atlantic and so it will be the Owls instead of the Trojans meeting my Tigers in New Orleans. It is a tough defeat as the only other Troy losses this year came to ranked teams and now they share the Sun Belt championship with the Owls. So, I suppose it's just as well I won't be home in time for the bowl game after all, but nevertheless I sure am looking forward to catching the remaining college bowl games during my R&R leave over Christmas.
Only a few weeks now and I'll be seeing my family for the first time since July - whoo hoo!
Cheers, Pearl
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Home Front
I want to show a small portion of the support I receive from all of you while I'm over here. I say a small portion because this doesn't include the e-mail, passed on well wishes during phone calls, and care packages I've received from home. Among these letters (and I apologize in advance if I miss someone) are postcards from my mom, cards from my dad, birthday cards from my children, a note my wife tucked into my sea bag as I departed (she has always done that when I've deployed and I never catch her slipping her note into my things), letters from my Commanding Officer and Admiral back home, a Thanksgiving card from a former co-worker and her church group, notes from folks at my church, and a letter from a total stranger who got my address and wanted me to know how much she appreciated what I was doing.
With the possible exception of World War II, I can't imagine a time when people in the military had such tangible evidence of the wide-ranging support from folks back home.
Thank you all so very, very much. Your support really does mean a lot to those of us over here and deployed world wide.
Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Bowl Bound
Looks like my Tigers are headed to the New Orleans Bowl! After a terrible start to the year, Memphis managed to win five of their last six games to complete a 7-5 season and garner an invitation to the Big Easy. In many ways, this is the perfect bowl bid for me as the New Orleans Bowl is the only bowl tie in for the Sun Belt Conference where my other team, Troy University, is likely to win the conference. It is a no lose proposition for me! The real bummer is, I won't be able to see the game.
In 2003, when Memphis went to their first bowl after a 32 year drought, it was the New Orleans Bowl. My dad, Tim (a family friend), and I drove down to enjoy the Tigers' victory over North Texas. It was an absolutely wonderful time and I sure wish I could do it this year as well. Unfortunately, I likely won't be able to see it on TV either. I have R&R leave approved and will be headed back to see my family for 15 glorious days over Christmas and I will almost certainly be spending December 21 waiting on a flight out of Kuwait back to the States. If all goes well, I should be back home sometime on the 23rd or 24th - just in time for Santa! So, while I'll miss the game, it's all for a good cause!
Go Tigers! Good luck in New Orleans!
Cheers, Pearl
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
It occurred to me as I was walking back from a wonderful Thanksgiving meal at the DFAC that I've come full circle. As a brand new Lieutenant (Junior Grade) I began my first deployment right after finishing training in the A-6E Intruder. I met my squadron on November 9th, a few weeks after they'd departed Norfolk . That was in 1991. My first holiday deployed away from home was Thanksgiving onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower right here in the Arabian Gulf. And here I am, in 2007, enjoying another Thanksgiving in the Gulf region, but this time, on the ground with an Army unit.
Would I have rather been at home with my family today and all of the Thanksgivings spent apart? Absolutely! There's not a Soldier (or Sailor) on the ground here that doesn't have that wish. But today was a special day, spent among friends, and was still a day full of thanks. I am thankful that I have had an enjoyable career that could never be called dull or boring. I am thankful that I have a loving family at home, celebrating their last Thanksgiving without me there. I am thankful to work among such professionals as the men and women fighting here in Iraq today. Finally, I am especially thankful for all of God's blessings on everyone in uniform.
Cheers, Pearl
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
VIP Parade
It's as inevitable as taxes in April and mosquitoes in summer. The Holiday season begins Thursday and so does the VIP Parade. What, you ask, is the VIP parade? It is the steady stream of Senators, Congresspeople, Generals, and high-level Executive Branch dignitaries that arrive in country for a whirlwind tour to bolster the troops' morale and show people back home that they really care for the average Soldier. What does the average Soldier actually think of all this attention? Well, as stated very well in a letter to the editor of Stars and Stripes, one SGT summed it up with, "Please stay home."
I know all of these VIPs mean well (well, mostly they mean well, some are here for the photo op I'm sure) but I wonder if they understand the impact their visit has on the military population at large. The VIPs show up on a special flight, have to be cared for and guarded during a carefully choreographed schedule, and will get to meet and greet selected Soldiers under the watchful eye of their NCOs' gaze. Often, I'm not making this up, questions are planted with "average Soldiers" so the VIP will feel like he/she really engaged on a personal level and got the ground truth of the average fighting man/woman.
Here's the thing. Their visit is a distraction and an annoyance. I have heard many say they just want to be able to enjoy a meal with their buddies and not have to deal with the hubbub of these visitors. If these VIPs want to experience Iraq - great! Instead of spending a day or two away from home on a pampered visit, come on over for six, nine, twelve, fifteen months. Move into a tent or share a CHU with a few of your friends. Squeeze yourself into a Humvee for a patrol or even better, walk through a real Iraqi neighborhood, minding of course the ever-present threat of snipers and IEDs.
Well, perhaps that last part was a little harsh. I'm not trying to be disrespectful of our leadership - like I said, I know they mean well. But I for one am looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner with a few Specialists, Sergeants, and senior NCOs that I've come to know as professional colleagues and friends. We've really shared this place together and I wouldn't give up my seat at that table of "VIPs" for any other table in the world.
Cheers, Pearl
I know all of these VIPs mean well (well, mostly they mean well, some are here for the photo op I'm sure) but I wonder if they understand the impact their visit has on the military population at large. The VIPs show up on a special flight, have to be cared for and guarded during a carefully choreographed schedule, and will get to meet and greet selected Soldiers under the watchful eye of their NCOs' gaze. Often, I'm not making this up, questions are planted with "average Soldiers" so the VIP will feel like he/she really engaged on a personal level and got the ground truth of the average fighting man/woman.
Here's the thing. Their visit is a distraction and an annoyance. I have heard many say they just want to be able to enjoy a meal with their buddies and not have to deal with the hubbub of these visitors. If these VIPs want to experience Iraq - great! Instead of spending a day or two away from home on a pampered visit, come on over for six, nine, twelve, fifteen months. Move into a tent or share a CHU with a few of your friends. Squeeze yourself into a Humvee for a patrol or even better, walk through a real Iraqi neighborhood, minding of course the ever-present threat of snipers and IEDs.
Well, perhaps that last part was a little harsh. I'm not trying to be disrespectful of our leadership - like I said, I know they mean well. But I for one am looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner with a few Specialists, Sergeants, and senior NCOs that I've come to know as professional colleagues and friends. We've really shared this place together and I wouldn't give up my seat at that table of "VIPs" for any other table in the world.
Cheers, Pearl
Friday, November 16, 2007
Coffee is for old people
I love coffee, even more than ever after discovering flavored creamer! Mmmm, mmmm, good! I usually drink a couple of cups every morning and one of my most favorite things to do is have a nice, warm cup of coffee in a mug my daughter made years ago while sitting on my deck on a slightly cool Saturday morning. There's nothing about coffee I don't completely enjoy: the smell of fresh grounds, the warmth as it goes down smoothly, even the little bitter bite if I overload the coffee maker. But that's all just nostalgia to the young Soldiers here.
Coffee is simply passé. It doesn't have enough kick, flavor, whatever. The new drinks are all about the buzz. Every morning, heck all throughout the day, Soldiers are drinking all manner of energy drinks. Red Bull was the first one to make it to the mainstream, packed with sugar and caffeine it was how partiers continued all night long. Now there are whole new sensations with names like "Rip It!" and "Monster Energy Drink." These are the new get-up-and-go drinks for today. At morning meetings many are drinking Rip It Citrus flavor and for missions Monster drinks are a staple just like Gatorade and water.
There are a few of us still doing it the old way in the mornings, beloved coffee mug in hand. But almost without exception, those with a mug instead of an aluminum can are the few of us who were making deployments when some of these Defenders of Freedom were in grade school or still in diapers.
So, if you've lived in a time when Iraq didn't take center stage in the news, raise your coffee mug high!
Cheers, Pearl
Coffee is simply passé. It doesn't have enough kick, flavor, whatever. The new drinks are all about the buzz. Every morning, heck all throughout the day, Soldiers are drinking all manner of energy drinks. Red Bull was the first one to make it to the mainstream, packed with sugar and caffeine it was how partiers continued all night long. Now there are whole new sensations with names like "Rip It!" and "Monster Energy Drink." These are the new get-up-and-go drinks for today. At morning meetings many are drinking Rip It Citrus flavor and for missions Monster drinks are a staple just like Gatorade and water.
There are a few of us still doing it the old way in the mornings, beloved coffee mug in hand. But almost without exception, those with a mug instead of an aluminum can are the few of us who were making deployments when some of these Defenders of Freedom were in grade school or still in diapers.
So, if you've lived in a time when Iraq didn't take center stage in the news, raise your coffee mug high!
Cheers, Pearl
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
P.S.
This is a P.S. to my previous post. I just read this in "Stars and Stripes". Enjoy, Pearl
U.S. - INDIRECT FIRE ATTACKS AT LOWEST LEVEL IN MONTHS
Stars and Stripes - Mideast edition, Tuesday, November 13, 2007
In the latest in a string of announcements touting successes tied to the U.S. troop “surge,” military officials said Monday that indirect-fire attacks in Iraq dropped to their lowest level in more than 21 months.
According to the figures released by the U.S. military command, the number of mortar and rocket attacks reported in October 2007 throughout the country was half the number reported in October 2006. The overall figure was the lowest since February 2006, just before the bombing of a Shiite shrine unleashed a wave of sectarian violence throughout Iraq.
U.S. - INDIRECT FIRE ATTACKS AT LOWEST LEVEL IN MONTHS
Stars and Stripes - Mideast edition, Tuesday, November 13, 2007
In the latest in a string of announcements touting successes tied to the U.S. troop “surge,” military officials said Monday that indirect-fire attacks in Iraq dropped to their lowest level in more than 21 months.
According to the figures released by the U.S. military command, the number of mortar and rocket attacks reported in October 2007 throughout the country was half the number reported in October 2006. The overall figure was the lowest since February 2006, just before the bombing of a Shiite shrine unleashed a wave of sectarian violence throughout Iraq.
Location Joke
I'm sure you all know what a "Location Joke" is - it's a joke where you had to be there to find the humor. I'm afraid this post is going to be a location joke, but perhaps you'll indulge me.
Today is my birthday. All in all, a good day by most measures even though I wasn't at home hearing Happy Birthday being sung intentionally off key (one of our family traditions). The day was pleasantly cool and clear, I received lots of packages and mail from home, and the folks around the headquarters even got me a card. During my run this afternoon I set my best time over my 3.5 mile course since being in Baghdad. Finally, even though I normally only eat desserts on Friday I had a slice of cheese cake after lunch and took two white chocolate chip cookies to go after dinner.
During the walk home, just after we'd (my Chief, my Army captain, and I - the EWOs for my unit) left the DFAC we heard the hated sound, "GONG, GONG, GONG - INCOMING! INCOMING! INCOMING!" That is the alert system that warns of an indirect fire attack (mortars or rockets). Well, we weren't near a concrete bunker so we found the closest shelter available - the big DFAC trash dumpsters and squatted down between them, listening for the booms. I had about half a cookie left to eat, and as I was taking a bite I said, "It sure would suck to get blown up on my birthday squatting down by the trash cans." My Chief looked over at me, I looked at him, and we simultaneously started laughing. The captain is relatively new to Iraq and she certainly didn't find anything humorous, but Chief and I just laughed and laughed. Perhaps you had to be there or even if you were there, perhaps you just need to find something to laugh about whenever you can over here. Or perhaps Chief and I have a warped sense of humor. Take your pick.
A minute or so later, after nothing but silence, the "All Clear" sounded and we walked back home. We didn't hear any explosions so I hope it was just a false alarm, but regardless, I certainly found a unique way to celebrate my big day!
That's all for today from the Garden of Eden.
Cheers, Pearl
Today is my birthday. All in all, a good day by most measures even though I wasn't at home hearing Happy Birthday being sung intentionally off key (one of our family traditions). The day was pleasantly cool and clear, I received lots of packages and mail from home, and the folks around the headquarters even got me a card. During my run this afternoon I set my best time over my 3.5 mile course since being in Baghdad. Finally, even though I normally only eat desserts on Friday I had a slice of cheese cake after lunch and took two white chocolate chip cookies to go after dinner.
During the walk home, just after we'd (my Chief, my Army captain, and I - the EWOs for my unit) left the DFAC we heard the hated sound, "GONG, GONG, GONG - INCOMING! INCOMING! INCOMING!" That is the alert system that warns of an indirect fire attack (mortars or rockets). Well, we weren't near a concrete bunker so we found the closest shelter available - the big DFAC trash dumpsters and squatted down between them, listening for the booms. I had about half a cookie left to eat, and as I was taking a bite I said, "It sure would suck to get blown up on my birthday squatting down by the trash cans." My Chief looked over at me, I looked at him, and we simultaneously started laughing. The captain is relatively new to Iraq and she certainly didn't find anything humorous, but Chief and I just laughed and laughed. Perhaps you had to be there or even if you were there, perhaps you just need to find something to laugh about whenever you can over here. Or perhaps Chief and I have a warped sense of humor. Take your pick.
A minute or so later, after nothing but silence, the "All Clear" sounded and we walked back home. We didn't hear any explosions so I hope it was just a false alarm, but regardless, I certainly found a unique way to celebrate my big day!
That's all for today from the Garden of Eden.
Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Veterans Day
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War I, the "Great War," "the War to end all wars" ended. (I certainly wish that last bit were true.) In many countries, today is Remembrance Day where those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in wartime are remembered. In the United States, we have a separate day for our war dead: Memorial Day. Today, Veterans Day, is the day we honor ALL of those who have served in uniform, in peace or war, anyone who for whatever reason has answered the call to duty. I like our system better.
I think it is important to remember all those who have fought and died for their country, but I am glad to honor everyone, especially in today's all-volunteer force, who has served a higher calling. I know the reasons men and women enter the military are varied and not always based on the highest civic virtue. But regardless, they showed up. I think that is worth honoring. Being in the military requires sacrifices great and small. Some make the ultimate sacrifice. Some spend time away from family and friends for significant parts of their career. Some stay just a few years. Some make it their life's work. But I am happy to count, and be counted with, them all, everyone who has worn a uniform and stood for defense of freedom.
I sure wish I were home, enjoying the three-day Federal holiday we get for Veterans Day and unfortunately, this is not my first Veterans Day away from home. But being here in Baghdad on this day, serving with many thousands of my brothers and sisters, will make all future Veterans Days all the more special for me.
For those who have come before, you are relieved; we have the watch. For those who will join us in the future, I hope you are ready to serve with well-deserved pride among the finest warriors in the world.
Cheers, Pearl
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Happy Birthdays!
Wow, I almost went a week without a post! Time seems to be flying by on my end, which is a good thing! I don't think I've been particularly busy but apparently busy enough to miss some posts. As a matter of fact, I've been thinking of some blog subjects but thinking doesn't equal action so I promise to get some of those written down about life here in the Cradle of Civilization. Anyway, on to the week of birthdays.
First, I forgot to post a Happy Birthday to my dad. I didn't forget his birthday (I did call and all that stuff - give me some credit) but I did forget to make a public big deal about it. Well, happy (late) birthday, Pop.
Second, I did remember to post a Happy Birthday wish to my mom, who's birthday is TODAY! Happy Birthday mom! I suppose it is just like on sports events. The camera zooms in, the player smiles and waves at the camera, and always says, "Hi Mom!" Kinda hard to forget mom birthdays (plus, she sent me an e-mail hinting that there hadn't been a post for a while - she wasn't trolling for a birthday post, but she's good about keeping me on track if I don't post in a while!)
Finally, today is the U.S. Marine Corps birthday. Happy birthday to all you Devil Dogs in our sister sea service.
I lied, one more paragraph so this one is really finally. It is interesting to see how perspective is truly relative. My brother had to evacuate his house during the fires out in California. He and my sister-in-law are fine and are back home but the fire did get pretty close. Anyway, I wrote him while he was moving from his office into a hotel, expressing concern and told him I was thinking and praying for him. His response was, "Well, at least I'm not getting shot at!" Even with a massive conflagration moving toward his neighborhood, his thoughts were of me while I was thinking about him. I guess that's brothers for you! Glad you're safe Bro!
Still looking for the mythical rain I've heard about. Cheers, Pearl
First, I forgot to post a Happy Birthday to my dad. I didn't forget his birthday (I did call and all that stuff - give me some credit) but I did forget to make a public big deal about it. Well, happy (late) birthday, Pop.
Second, I did remember to post a Happy Birthday wish to my mom, who's birthday is TODAY! Happy Birthday mom! I suppose it is just like on sports events. The camera zooms in, the player smiles and waves at the camera, and always says, "Hi Mom!" Kinda hard to forget mom birthdays (plus, she sent me an e-mail hinting that there hadn't been a post for a while - she wasn't trolling for a birthday post, but she's good about keeping me on track if I don't post in a while!)
Finally, today is the U.S. Marine Corps birthday. Happy birthday to all you Devil Dogs in our sister sea service.
I lied, one more paragraph so this one is really finally. It is interesting to see how perspective is truly relative. My brother had to evacuate his house during the fires out in California. He and my sister-in-law are fine and are back home but the fire did get pretty close. Anyway, I wrote him while he was moving from his office into a hotel, expressing concern and told him I was thinking and praying for him. His response was, "Well, at least I'm not getting shot at!" Even with a massive conflagration moving toward his neighborhood, his thoughts were of me while I was thinking about him. I guess that's brothers for you! Glad you're safe Bro!
Still looking for the mythical rain I've heard about. Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Football
This is a companion post to the previous one about dust here in Iraq. This weekend, HDTVs all over America are broadcasting countless football games played on beautifully manicured fields, all nice and verdant grass or high-end artificial turf (except Boise State's horrid blue field).
Not so much here!
Cheers, Pearl
PS - Congratulations to Navy for their victory over Notre Dame breaking a 43 year losing streak to the Irish.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Dust
I've mentioned in quite a few of my posts that Iraq is dusty. That's about as descriptive as saying Antarctica is cold. So, I thought I would quantify "dusty" so y'all would know exactly what I mean.
First, few things grow here without careful tending so a blank area of ground, rather than going to weed like back home, goes to dirt - plain, ole, brown dirt. Vast expanses of dirt are everywhere around this place. But that's just the beginning. On top of this dirt, which is often hard packed and sun baked, is sandy, gravel-like dirt. This is what I'd describe as ordinary dirt like we have back in the States. Mixed in still is a more refined sandy dirt, like beach sand without the pretty view. Last, there's the dust.
This is no ordinary dust, mind you. We refer to it as "Moon Dust." This is the ultra-fine dust that makes talcum powder look like coarse landscaping gravel. The moon dust makes little puffs when you walk through it so everyone looks like the Peanuts' character Pigpen. It easily blows up into a fine powder with the slightest breeze or the passing of any vehicle. And, it gets everywhere. There is a certain monochromatic quality to the landscape here because everything, every building, vehicle, barrier, tree, bush, sign, everything has a light coating of light-tan dust.
There is an urban legend that over 90% of household dust is actually sloughed off dead skin. I disagree. I've seen where all the dust comes from...here!
Cheers, Pearl
First, few things grow here without careful tending so a blank area of ground, rather than going to weed like back home, goes to dirt - plain, ole, brown dirt. Vast expanses of dirt are everywhere around this place. But that's just the beginning. On top of this dirt, which is often hard packed and sun baked, is sandy, gravel-like dirt. This is what I'd describe as ordinary dirt like we have back in the States. Mixed in still is a more refined sandy dirt, like beach sand without the pretty view. Last, there's the dust.
This is no ordinary dust, mind you. We refer to it as "Moon Dust." This is the ultra-fine dust that makes talcum powder look like coarse landscaping gravel. The moon dust makes little puffs when you walk through it so everyone looks like the Peanuts' character Pigpen. It easily blows up into a fine powder with the slightest breeze or the passing of any vehicle. And, it gets everywhere. There is a certain monochromatic quality to the landscape here because everything, every building, vehicle, barrier, tree, bush, sign, everything has a light coating of light-tan dust.
There is an urban legend that over 90% of household dust is actually sloughed off dead skin. I disagree. I've seen where all the dust comes from...here!
Cheers, Pearl
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
I hope you all have lots of good little ghoulies and ghosties tonight. I can't say there will be a lot of that here, with no children on the base and all. As a matter of fact, except for a couple of pumpkins on briefing slides and the staff at the DFAC wearing giant, orange Halloween hats, today has been pretty much like any other day here in Baghdad.
We seem to have turned the corner on heat with daytime highs only reaching into the upper 80s. We received our mandatory winter safety warning e-mails the other day so good ole Jack Frost must be right around the corner! I'm still having a hard time imagining this place as other than hot and dusty so I'm actually looking forward to this mythical rain everyone keeps talking about. But the days now are actually pleasant, with regards to temperature, and tonight would be perfect for trick or treating.
The only other big news is a Fair Winds and Following Seas to "Grease" of "The Landlocked Sailor Blog." I saw him at our last meeting together tonight and he will be headed home to his family for keeps in a few days. I really only was around him once a week at our Wednesday meeting, but since he was my first glimpse into the land of the Individual Augmentee in Iraq, I feel like I know him as well as I know anyone here. In fact, I think my mom sends him more e-mail than she sends me! Thanks for all you've done here Grease and have a safe trip home! We've got it now!
Cheers, Pearl
Friday, October 26, 2007
Missing the Point
WARNING - THIS IS A SOAPBOX POST
I've tried to avoid getting on my soapbox over here but as I was running the other day, I was mulling a conversation I'd had earlier with the Regimental Public Affairs Officer. He said he'd seen a link to my blog while doing a Google search (sideline - pretty cool that it shows up!) but was unable to view it because it was blocked on his work computer. Earlier in the year, the Army decided that blogs were security risks and published an order that all bloggers had to have permission to host blogs and had to have all content approved by their supervisor. As you might imagine, that order cause quite a stink and created quite a burden on folks who have better things to do here like fight a war. So, the Army, with little fanfare, quit inforcing it's unenforceable rule...or so it seemed.
When I first arrived, I could view blogs on my government computer, but could not log in and had to post remotely via e-mail. Before I got my commercial account set up, I think I mentioned this fact on my post "500" last month. But now, something else has cropped up. Now, blogs can't even be viewed on government computers; they are completely blocked. "Potentially Harmful Content" is the message that appears.
Here's the soapbox part.
There is an active blogging ring over here in Iraq. There are lots of Soldiers and Sailors and Airmen and Marines who want to tell their own story about their part in the war and there certainly seems to be a demand from the American public for just this kind of news (this blog alone, which was started as a way to keep in touch with family and friends, has over 1,100 visitors now in just a few months). The vast majority of bloggers here are telling a positive story, a story that is often missing from mainstream media. I understand that a convoy getting attacked or civilians getting killed is more "exciting," more "newsworthy" than re-opening a school, or repairing potholes, or making a neighborhood safe enough for women and children to walk the streets without fear, but this is the story that we who are here want told. The Army, in it's wisdom, is making it more and more difficult for the average Soldier to tell the average American about the good work he/she is doing here. Now that government systems completely block blogs, the Army has unwittingly, or wittingly perhaps, established a class division where only those of us who have the means to have personal computers can post and read blogs about events here that shape all of our lives. The average story-teller has so many barriers in his/her way, that he/she gives up and their voice isn't heard. The Army should embrace blogging - these are good stories, the "why we fight" stories of past generations. There is good work happening every day that doesn't make the front page of the newspaper or the 30 second clip on the evening news. And the Army is missing the point!
Off my rambling soapbox now.
Cheers, Pearl
I've tried to avoid getting on my soapbox over here but as I was running the other day, I was mulling a conversation I'd had earlier with the Regimental Public Affairs Officer. He said he'd seen a link to my blog while doing a Google search (sideline - pretty cool that it shows up!) but was unable to view it because it was blocked on his work computer. Earlier in the year, the Army decided that blogs were security risks and published an order that all bloggers had to have permission to host blogs and had to have all content approved by their supervisor. As you might imagine, that order cause quite a stink and created quite a burden on folks who have better things to do here like fight a war. So, the Army, with little fanfare, quit inforcing it's unenforceable rule...or so it seemed.
When I first arrived, I could view blogs on my government computer, but could not log in and had to post remotely via e-mail. Before I got my commercial account set up, I think I mentioned this fact on my post "500" last month. But now, something else has cropped up. Now, blogs can't even be viewed on government computers; they are completely blocked. "Potentially Harmful Content" is the message that appears.
Here's the soapbox part.
There is an active blogging ring over here in Iraq. There are lots of Soldiers and Sailors and Airmen and Marines who want to tell their own story about their part in the war and there certainly seems to be a demand from the American public for just this kind of news (this blog alone, which was started as a way to keep in touch with family and friends, has over 1,100 visitors now in just a few months). The vast majority of bloggers here are telling a positive story, a story that is often missing from mainstream media. I understand that a convoy getting attacked or civilians getting killed is more "exciting," more "newsworthy" than re-opening a school, or repairing potholes, or making a neighborhood safe enough for women and children to walk the streets without fear, but this is the story that we who are here want told. The Army, in it's wisdom, is making it more and more difficult for the average Soldier to tell the average American about the good work he/she is doing here. Now that government systems completely block blogs, the Army has unwittingly, or wittingly perhaps, established a class division where only those of us who have the means to have personal computers can post and read blogs about events here that shape all of our lives. The average story-teller has so many barriers in his/her way, that he/she gives up and their voice isn't heard. The Army should embrace blogging - these are good stories, the "why we fight" stories of past generations. There is good work happening every day that doesn't make the front page of the newspaper or the 30 second clip on the evening news. And the Army is missing the point!
Off my rambling soapbox now.
Cheers, Pearl
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Regimental Drink
Thanks to Tacoma Dave who left this comment regarding the 2nd Cavalry Regiment "Dragoons" on my last post. I thought this lesson in history and bartending deserved its own entry. At formal dinners in the Navy, we often have "grog" which violators of the rules of the Mess often must imbibe as part of their fine. In talking with the officers here in the Regiment, this unique drink apparently has the same flavor as grog, but certainly has history behind every ingredient. I can't say I'm looking forward to trying it, but I am looking forward to being in a place where I could try it! Enjoy!
From Tacoma Dave:
"Just so you know what kind of a unit you've gotten yourself into, the mixing of the Regimental Punch should give you some idea.
The punch is prepared using very specific ingredients that represent the many battles and campaigns that lace the rich history of the 2d Dragoons. Each ingredient reminds us of those who have gone before us, and the responsibility we have to continue the superb service to our nation. This service has gone uninterrupted since 1836.
The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (now 2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment) was organized as the 2d Regiment of Dragoons in 1836 to fight the Seminole Indians in Florida. The Dragoons wore an eight pointed star as a cap ornament, which now forms the background of the Regimental Crest. The palmetto leaf superimposed on the star symbolizes the five years the Dragoons fought in the Everglades and swamps. Pour one-half bottle of Champagne and Red Wine over dry ice in commemoration of their baptism in battle.
One year after the Seminole Campaign, units of the Regiment added three more streamers to the Dragoon banner for battles against the Cheyennes, Nez Perces and Bannocks in the Southwest Territories. Pour Rye Whiskey over the dry ice to symbolize the taste for this drink which the troopers developed. Add Tequila for the fourteen campaigns fought in Mexico in 1846 and '47.
Kahlua is added for Captain May's headlong charge into the blazing Mexican artillery at Resaca de la Palma. “Remember your Regiment, and follow your officers!” called Captain May, and it became the motto of the Regiment.
During the Civil War, the 2d Dragoons officially became the 2d U.S. Cavalry Regiment and earned 14 battle streamers. The names remind us of the tremendous sacrifice of life of some of our nation’s toughest battles. These include Fredricksburg, Antitiem, Chancelorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Manassas, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor. Sergeant Conrad Schmidt saved the life of his gravely wounded commander, Captain Rodenbough (a Medal of Honor recipient), at the battle of Winchester. At this time add Southern Comfort to the punch.
From 1866 to 1880, the Regiment once again did battle with the Indians in Wyoming, Kansas, Montana, and the Little Big Horn. In memory of this, add the last of the Champagne and Red Wine.
In 1898 the "2d Cav" entered the Spanish American War, fighting alongside Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. Now add Bacardi's Rum to represent the streamer for Santiago.
The Regiment entered World War I and was the only unit to fight as Cavalry -- horses and all. For such places as the Argonne and the Marne, add the French wine, Vieux Bordeaux. "Toujours Pret!" (Always Ready) was added to the Crest as well as the Fleur-de-lis.
Renamed the 2d Cavalry Group, Mechanized, the Regiment entered World War II, landing at Normandy in 1944, and led the advance of Patton's Third Army throughout the remainder of the war. In a daring raid through Russian lines in the closing days of the war, troopers from the Regiment rescued the famous Lipizzaner show horses from Russian forces. For these actions, now pour Napoleon Brandy.
The next campaign liquor put to use in this historical punch, Vodka, represents the Ryukyus battle fought at the close of World War II.
The Regiment was re-designated the 2d Constabulary Regiment and served in the German occupation. In 1948, it became the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment and began border duty along the longest stretch of the Iron Curtain patrolled by American Forces. Rhine Wine symbolizes the Central Europe campaign, the drive through Germany, and the long Cold War.
The next ingredient to add to your historical punch is that which sustained the fighting spirit and élan of the Regiment during its combat in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait -- Evian Water.
Flexibility and versatility are trademarks of the Second Dragoons, and the Regiment once again proved it in Haiti. As a member of the Multi-National Task Force, the Regiment had driven more accident-free miles, ate more dust and drank less beer than any other unit in recent memory. To commemorate our Haitian experience and the "two beer limit," add 2 Sharp’s Non-Alcoholic Beers as the final ingredient.
Now for the hardest job of all -- to drink this punch!!!
Note: Slivovitz has been added to the Regimental punch to represent the Regiments part in the peacekeeping effort in Bosnia. As of yet, I do not know of any change in the official ceremony to include this drink."
From Tacoma Dave:
"Just so you know what kind of a unit you've gotten yourself into, the mixing of the Regimental Punch should give you some idea.
The punch is prepared using very specific ingredients that represent the many battles and campaigns that lace the rich history of the 2d Dragoons. Each ingredient reminds us of those who have gone before us, and the responsibility we have to continue the superb service to our nation. This service has gone uninterrupted since 1836.
The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (now 2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment) was organized as the 2d Regiment of Dragoons in 1836 to fight the Seminole Indians in Florida. The Dragoons wore an eight pointed star as a cap ornament, which now forms the background of the Regimental Crest. The palmetto leaf superimposed on the star symbolizes the five years the Dragoons fought in the Everglades and swamps. Pour one-half bottle of Champagne and Red Wine over dry ice in commemoration of their baptism in battle.
One year after the Seminole Campaign, units of the Regiment added three more streamers to the Dragoon banner for battles against the Cheyennes, Nez Perces and Bannocks in the Southwest Territories. Pour Rye Whiskey over the dry ice to symbolize the taste for this drink which the troopers developed. Add Tequila for the fourteen campaigns fought in Mexico in 1846 and '47.
Kahlua is added for Captain May's headlong charge into the blazing Mexican artillery at Resaca de la Palma. “Remember your Regiment, and follow your officers!” called Captain May, and it became the motto of the Regiment.
During the Civil War, the 2d Dragoons officially became the 2d U.S. Cavalry Regiment and earned 14 battle streamers. The names remind us of the tremendous sacrifice of life of some of our nation’s toughest battles. These include Fredricksburg, Antitiem, Chancelorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Manassas, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor. Sergeant Conrad Schmidt saved the life of his gravely wounded commander, Captain Rodenbough (a Medal of Honor recipient), at the battle of Winchester. At this time add Southern Comfort to the punch.
From 1866 to 1880, the Regiment once again did battle with the Indians in Wyoming, Kansas, Montana, and the Little Big Horn. In memory of this, add the last of the Champagne and Red Wine.
In 1898 the "2d Cav" entered the Spanish American War, fighting alongside Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. Now add Bacardi's Rum to represent the streamer for Santiago.
The Regiment entered World War I and was the only unit to fight as Cavalry -- horses and all. For such places as the Argonne and the Marne, add the French wine, Vieux Bordeaux. "Toujours Pret!" (Always Ready) was added to the Crest as well as the Fleur-de-lis.
Renamed the 2d Cavalry Group, Mechanized, the Regiment entered World War II, landing at Normandy in 1944, and led the advance of Patton's Third Army throughout the remainder of the war. In a daring raid through Russian lines in the closing days of the war, troopers from the Regiment rescued the famous Lipizzaner show horses from Russian forces. For these actions, now pour Napoleon Brandy.
The next campaign liquor put to use in this historical punch, Vodka, represents the Ryukyus battle fought at the close of World War II.
The Regiment was re-designated the 2d Constabulary Regiment and served in the German occupation. In 1948, it became the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment and began border duty along the longest stretch of the Iron Curtain patrolled by American Forces. Rhine Wine symbolizes the Central Europe campaign, the drive through Germany, and the long Cold War.
The next ingredient to add to your historical punch is that which sustained the fighting spirit and élan of the Regiment during its combat in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait -- Evian Water.
Flexibility and versatility are trademarks of the Second Dragoons, and the Regiment once again proved it in Haiti. As a member of the Multi-National Task Force, the Regiment had driven more accident-free miles, ate more dust and drank less beer than any other unit in recent memory. To commemorate our Haitian experience and the "two beer limit," add 2 Sharp’s Non-Alcoholic Beers as the final ingredient.
Now for the hardest job of all -- to drink this punch!!!
Note: Slivovitz has been added to the Regimental punch to represent the Regiments part in the peacekeeping effort in Bosnia. As of yet, I do not know of any change in the official ceremony to include this drink."
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Combat Patch
Being a Naval Flight Officer, I am familiar with squadron patches. Every squadron has a unique patch worn on the flight suit or flight jacket that announces to everyone, you are a member of this team. Patches represent great pride and I almost got into a bar room fight over my patch (an Air Force officer took exception to the fact that his girlfriend thought my squadron's patch was "way more cool" than his - I can't help it that she was right! BTW, we ended up drinking together the rest of the night so sorry, no honor needed defending in this story. But I digress.) When I started to see soldiers in the new Army digital uniforms, I couldn't figure out why some only had one patch on the left arm and some had a patch on the left and right arms, but they were apparently patches from different units.
Since arriving in Iraq, I have learned the patch on the left arm represents the unit to which that soldier is currently assigned. The patch on the right arm represents any previous unit to which that soldier has been assigned while serving in a combat environment (the "combat patch"). Well, last night, I became a full-fledged member of 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment ("Dragoons") and was welcomed in during our Patch Ceremony by the unit Commander.
So, on my left arm I proudly wear the patch representing my Navy command here.
And now, rather than a blank expanse of green velcro, I now wear with equal (or admittedly greater) pride, the patch of my adopted Army unit, 2SCR.
Feels pretty good to be a part of this team involved in this fight.
Toujours Pret! ("Always Ready"), Pearl
Since arriving in Iraq, I have learned the patch on the left arm represents the unit to which that soldier is currently assigned. The patch on the right arm represents any previous unit to which that soldier has been assigned while serving in a combat environment (the "combat patch"). Well, last night, I became a full-fledged member of 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment ("Dragoons") and was welcomed in during our Patch Ceremony by the unit Commander.
So, on my left arm I proudly wear the patch representing my Navy command here.
And now, rather than a blank expanse of green velcro, I now wear with equal (or admittedly greater) pride, the patch of my adopted Army unit, 2SCR.
Feels pretty good to be a part of this team involved in this fight.
Toujours Pret! ("Always Ready"), Pearl
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Tiger Football
Fall and winter have always been my favorite times of the year. Part of it has to do with the climate (growing up in the South with such awful hot summers made me always appreciate cooler weather) but the bigger part has to do with the fact that many of the things I really enjoy occur at the end of the year, specifically football.
I absolutely love college football. When we moved back to Memphis one of the first things I did was buy season tickets for my family, and they are awesome tickets. We sit about 2/3 of the way up the stadium with a grand view of the complete field and we are right on the 40 yard line. Now Memphis is not known for its football prowess. As a matter of fact, I think we are the team other teams schedule for their homecoming so they can almost be assured of a win. But no matter, I love going to the games. My dad, who admittedly has been through even more crappy football games than I, will often leave when the predictable outcome is no longer in doubt, but my family and I stay to the bitter end.
Coincident with my return to Memphis was the rise of Tiger football, thanks in a large part to a fantastic running back, DeAngelo Williams, now with the Carolina Panthers. He was amazing to watch, with speed and agilty few players possess on their best career performances. And the best part was, Memphis began to win. And win. And win. They went to three consecutive bowl games and won two (I manged to go to the first two but was deployed for the third). Life was grand for the Tigers. Then, DeAngelo graduated.
Last year we were 1-11, although couched as a "rebuilding year" it seemed like the old days were back. This season is little better; we're 2-4. Sure there were the coulda, woulda, shoulda times, the single plays or series that could have turned the tide, but it seems like the Tigers are rarely on the good end of those moments. So, I sit here thousands of miles away, unable to watch the games, and cringing when I look at the scores Sunday morning. There is something even more disheartening having to suffer through the season from a distance, as backwards as that sounds. I love walking to the games, having a sweet tea and BBQ nachos, cheering and clapping for touchdowns, singing the fight song, and even saying on the way home, as we almost always do, "Well, there's always next year."
You can bet, regardless of this season's outcome, I'll be there in my seat next year, cheering the Tigers in person.
"Go Tigers Go, Go On To Victory,
Be A Winner Thru And Thru;
Fight Tigers, Fight Cause We're
Going All The Way --
Fight, Fight
For The Blue And Gray And Say --
Let's Go Tigers Go,
Go On To Victory.
See Our Colors Bright And True;
It's Fight Now Without A Fear,
Fight Now Let's Shout A Cheer,
Shout For Dear Memphis U."
Cheers, Pearl
I absolutely love college football. When we moved back to Memphis one of the first things I did was buy season tickets for my family, and they are awesome tickets. We sit about 2/3 of the way up the stadium with a grand view of the complete field and we are right on the 40 yard line. Now Memphis is not known for its football prowess. As a matter of fact, I think we are the team other teams schedule for their homecoming so they can almost be assured of a win. But no matter, I love going to the games. My dad, who admittedly has been through even more crappy football games than I, will often leave when the predictable outcome is no longer in doubt, but my family and I stay to the bitter end.
Coincident with my return to Memphis was the rise of Tiger football, thanks in a large part to a fantastic running back, DeAngelo Williams, now with the Carolina Panthers. He was amazing to watch, with speed and agilty few players possess on their best career performances. And the best part was, Memphis began to win. And win. And win. They went to three consecutive bowl games and won two (I manged to go to the first two but was deployed for the third). Life was grand for the Tigers. Then, DeAngelo graduated.
Last year we were 1-11, although couched as a "rebuilding year" it seemed like the old days were back. This season is little better; we're 2-4. Sure there were the coulda, woulda, shoulda times, the single plays or series that could have turned the tide, but it seems like the Tigers are rarely on the good end of those moments. So, I sit here thousands of miles away, unable to watch the games, and cringing when I look at the scores Sunday morning. There is something even more disheartening having to suffer through the season from a distance, as backwards as that sounds. I love walking to the games, having a sweet tea and BBQ nachos, cheering and clapping for touchdowns, singing the fight song, and even saying on the way home, as we almost always do, "Well, there's always next year."
You can bet, regardless of this season's outcome, I'll be there in my seat next year, cheering the Tigers in person.
"Go Tigers Go, Go On To Victory,
Be A Winner Thru And Thru;
Fight Tigers, Fight Cause We're
Going All The Way --
Fight, Fight
For The Blue And Gray And Say --
Let's Go Tigers Go,
Go On To Victory.
See Our Colors Bright And True;
It's Fight Now Without A Fear,
Fight Now Let's Shout A Cheer,
Shout For Dear Memphis U."
Cheers, Pearl
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Happy Birthday!
The U.S. Navy is 232 years old today! I have to admit, I never thought I'd be celebrating the Navy's founding in the company of a bunch of Army folks, but here I am enjoying the Sea Service's birthday in the middle of a desert!
October 13, 1775 is recognized as the day when the Continental Congress authorized two ships to be outfitted to interdict shipping and support General Washington's forces. In fact, Washington had already taken command of three vessels to support his operations so "approving" two more was quite an easy thing to do after the fact. From those humble beginnings and the Navy's mediocre performance during the Revolution, we have grown to claim unchallenged control of the seas today. Pretty awesome to think about it. And we even have time to loan the Army and Marines about 10,000 Sailors directly contributing to the ground war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm looking forward to the day when I'll see my fellow soldiers onboard a carrier for a deployment in the future, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
"When word of crisis breaks out in Washington, it's no accident the first question that comes to everyone's lips is: Where is the nearest carrier?" President Clinton
Go Navy!
Cheers, Pearl
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Fun with Lieutenants
One thing about junior officers is, they are pretty much the same regardless of branch of service. They are usually hard working, industrious, capable, full of themselves, and very often, gullible.
Even here at war there are an abundance of meetings. I'd hoped to get away from at least that aspect of work while here but I think I spend more time in meetings now than back home. At one of the daily meetings I attend, there is a young First Lieutenant Intelligence Officer who is the poster child for the attributes of the opening paragraph. She knows she's the epitome of the first four adjectives; I felt obligated to demonstrate she also fit the fifth: gullible.
She came to Monday's meeting in a brand new uniform. New uniforms are easy to spot because it doesn't take long to get a uniform faded and dusty and her uniform was crisp and clean. As we were leaving the meeting I said, "I think when you put your uniform together, you put your insignia on upside down." She got an embarrassed look on her face and immediately looked to fix the problem. Remember I said she was a First Lieutenant? This is what 1LT insignia looks like:
Bad, mean Commander. He, he, he...
Cheers, Pearl
Even here at war there are an abundance of meetings. I'd hoped to get away from at least that aspect of work while here but I think I spend more time in meetings now than back home. At one of the daily meetings I attend, there is a young First Lieutenant Intelligence Officer who is the poster child for the attributes of the opening paragraph. She knows she's the epitome of the first four adjectives; I felt obligated to demonstrate she also fit the fifth: gullible.
She came to Monday's meeting in a brand new uniform. New uniforms are easy to spot because it doesn't take long to get a uniform faded and dusty and her uniform was crisp and clean. As we were leaving the meeting I said, "I think when you put your uniform together, you put your insignia on upside down." She got an embarrassed look on her face and immediately looked to fix the problem. Remember I said she was a First Lieutenant? This is what 1LT insignia looks like:
Bad, mean Commander. He, he, he...
Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Church
Our normal priest is away right now and the Australian priest conducted today's service. When it came time to begin, it was only the two of us for worship, but as the Prayer Book says, "When two or three are gathered together in his name..." He'd originally told the American priest he would use the Rite I liturgy as we usually do, but since there were only the two of us, he asked if I minded if we used the liturgy he uses at the Australian compound. I told him that was fine by me and I'm very glad I did. (Two more soldiers joined a few minutes into the service.)
The liturgy he used was more like the Rite II service we use back home, with only a few minor variations. It was comfortable, which is funny since I grew up with Rite I and know it almost by heart, but now Rite II seems normal and today's service put me more in mind of home. He used quite a bit of silence during the prayers, which I enjoy, and is something we do at Holy Communion as well. I hate feeling rushed during prayer and silence seems to me to make that time more interactive with God.
The final part of the service was actually after we'd received our blessing and dismissal. As we were chatting with some "biscuits" he'd brought (he attends every week and always brings some Australian cookies) he asked if we noticed there were questions at the end of the bulletin. I had but hadn't looked closely. He said those were for us to take and think about this week if we wanted. Someone said, "Not only did we have a church service, but we have homework!" We laughed.
But as I was walking back to work, it occured to me, we always have homework following church.
Cheers, Pearl
The liturgy he used was more like the Rite II service we use back home, with only a few minor variations. It was comfortable, which is funny since I grew up with Rite I and know it almost by heart, but now Rite II seems normal and today's service put me more in mind of home. He used quite a bit of silence during the prayers, which I enjoy, and is something we do at Holy Communion as well. I hate feeling rushed during prayer and silence seems to me to make that time more interactive with God.
The final part of the service was actually after we'd received our blessing and dismissal. As we were chatting with some "biscuits" he'd brought (he attends every week and always brings some Australian cookies) he asked if we noticed there were questions at the end of the bulletin. I had but hadn't looked closely. He said those were for us to take and think about this week if we wanted. Someone said, "Not only did we have a church service, but we have homework!" We laughed.
But as I was walking back to work, it occured to me, we always have homework following church.
Cheers, Pearl
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Phenomenon
A couple of days ago, I saw this:
I wasn't sure what to make of it. Perhaps, something had gone wrong but I thought I'd ask some questions first. Turns out, what I was seeing were these things called "CLOUDS."
Interesting.
Clouds.
I had to look them up on the internet. Apparently, when enough moisture builds up in the air, the moisture condenses into these things. Odd.
But there's more. It seems that these clouds can continue to build up moisture and eventually some of that moisture falls to earth. This is called, "RAIN."
Learn something new every day.
(On a slightly more serious note, no kidding I took a picture because these were the first clouds I'd seen since I left the States. And, according to the weather guessers, late October and early November mark the beginning of the rainy season here. We haven't even had a hint of rain but I understand rain makes a big sandy country into a big muddy country. I can hardly wait.)
Cheers, Pearl
I wasn't sure what to make of it. Perhaps, something had gone wrong but I thought I'd ask some questions first. Turns out, what I was seeing were these things called "CLOUDS."
Interesting.
Clouds.
I had to look them up on the internet. Apparently, when enough moisture builds up in the air, the moisture condenses into these things. Odd.
But there's more. It seems that these clouds can continue to build up moisture and eventually some of that moisture falls to earth. This is called, "RAIN."
Learn something new every day.
(On a slightly more serious note, no kidding I took a picture because these were the first clouds I'd seen since I left the States. And, according to the weather guessers, late October and early November mark the beginning of the rainy season here. We haven't even had a hint of rain but I understand rain makes a big sandy country into a big muddy country. I can hardly wait.)
Cheers, Pearl
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Unexpected things
Bats, foxes, and bands. Never imagined I'd encounter these here in Baghdad.
There is a man-made lake here where I like to run run. When I first arrived it was way too hot to try and do any exercise except in the early morning. Lately, we've barely cracked 100 degrees during the day and so it is cool enough to run in the evenings (I know it's hard to imagine 100 feeling pleasant but temperature is quite relative when you've been living through 120 degree days). Anyway, the evenings are quite pleasant and it makes for any enjoyable jog. One of the things that I particularly enjoy is watching the bats come out just before the sun sets. They silently flit around, diving and swirling, eating dinner (breakfast?) and keeping me from having to deal with any bugs - a double win for me! It is facinating to watch them as they fly around, but the other evening I saw something even more beautiful. Right as it was almost too dark to see, a fox came running out of the vegitation next to the lake right past me. (One of the reasons I like running around the lake is it is the only green area around with vegetation along the shore and fish jumping to get bugs the bats miss). The fox didn't even really give me any notice and we just passed jogging in opposite directions. He/she was deep auburn/brown with a big, bushy tail with a white tip, stereotypical fox markings as if it had been drawn by Walt Disney.
Another unexpected find here is dinner music. It is not unusual, especially over at the Division dining facility (DFAC) where the big staff eats, to have some small combo band playing during dinner. I've heard everything from jazz, to winds, to electric rock (the last play outside but rest assured you can hear them just fine in where we are eating). I've never been able to find out if these are just soldiers who want to keep up their musical skills or if they are over here as part of a military band and their job is to go around playing these gigs. I would like to think they are playing just for the fun of it; I can't imagine being a piccolo player, deciding to join the Army, and finding out that my piccolo skills are needed most in Baghdad. But, then again, I can't imagine joining the Army and not expecting to spend a tour or two or three over here.
But, I wasn't expecting to be over here with a U.S. Navy tape on my Army uniform either so what do I know!
There is a man-made lake here where I like to run run. When I first arrived it was way too hot to try and do any exercise except in the early morning. Lately, we've barely cracked 100 degrees during the day and so it is cool enough to run in the evenings (I know it's hard to imagine 100 feeling pleasant but temperature is quite relative when you've been living through 120 degree days). Anyway, the evenings are quite pleasant and it makes for any enjoyable jog. One of the things that I particularly enjoy is watching the bats come out just before the sun sets. They silently flit around, diving and swirling, eating dinner (breakfast?) and keeping me from having to deal with any bugs - a double win for me! It is facinating to watch them as they fly around, but the other evening I saw something even more beautiful. Right as it was almost too dark to see, a fox came running out of the vegitation next to the lake right past me. (One of the reasons I like running around the lake is it is the only green area around with vegetation along the shore and fish jumping to get bugs the bats miss). The fox didn't even really give me any notice and we just passed jogging in opposite directions. He/she was deep auburn/brown with a big, bushy tail with a white tip, stereotypical fox markings as if it had been drawn by Walt Disney.
Another unexpected find here is dinner music. It is not unusual, especially over at the Division dining facility (DFAC) where the big staff eats, to have some small combo band playing during dinner. I've heard everything from jazz, to winds, to electric rock (the last play outside but rest assured you can hear them just fine in where we are eating). I've never been able to find out if these are just soldiers who want to keep up their musical skills or if they are over here as part of a military band and their job is to go around playing these gigs. I would like to think they are playing just for the fun of it; I can't imagine being a piccolo player, deciding to join the Army, and finding out that my piccolo skills are needed most in Baghdad. But, then again, I can't imagine joining the Army and not expecting to spend a tour or two or three over here.
But, I wasn't expecting to be over here with a U.S. Navy tape on my Army uniform either so what do I know!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
In and on
Yippee; I'm in my new quarters and online again! Life is good! My room is the far door. As you can see, I have a lovely view of one of our ubiquitous concrete walls but still, I'm in a place I can make somewhat permanent. I've added a couple of small area rugs to cover up the grey tile floor and will work on getting something to put on the bare, panel walls. The big coup was getting internet established but again, my Chief came through and now I'm online to the world. One of the other O-5s has the near room and we share a small bath in the middle. Oh Mom, in the small world category, he is a graduate from Appalachian State and he has a relative who works at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC.
Speaking of my Chief, he's been here a little longer and has done some extensive modifications to his quarters. We grilled steaks there again tonight and it is such a nice break from the DFAC. Having just a few of the guys over in a relaxed atmosphere makes for a great change of pace to everyday life. The only thing missing was a cooler full of cold beer; guess I'll have to wait until I throw my, "Back in the World" party when I get home and can enjoy my deck again.
Life is settling into a good routine now. I'm getting comfortable in my job and now I've quit being a nomad for a while. The job is rewarding and there's nothing quite like giving a live demonstration of our equipment to a soldier and having him say, "Wow! Your stuff really works!" Makes them feel safer and takes away one more thing they need to worry about while on mission. Like I said, life is good.
Cheers, Pearl
PS - I've added a new link - Gritty Kitty Blog. "Toonces" is a junior officer with whom I went through training and is over here doing the same job I am. I was checking my statistics for the previous blog and saw I was getting referrals from her blog. I thought I'd return the favor. Quite the blog network we have going.
Friday, September 21, 2007
500!
Right now I don't have internet access in my room so I'm trying remote posting through e-mail. On government internet systems I can read blogs but I cannot log in to make posts or edits. Hopefully this remote posting works, or even better, hopefully my room internet is connected tomorrow and I'll be back to normal operations.
In blog news, I'm over 500 readers! Unbelievable! That means that over 500 times y'all have had so little to do that you've checked in to see what, and how, I was doing; simply amazing! My goal when I started was to have an easy way to send news back to a few folks at home. Selfishly, I just didn't think I'd write enough e-mail to everyone to stay in touch and thought that if I had one central news location I could keep folks at home informed with the least amount of effort on my part. And now, my site has had over 500 hits!
The polite response I suppose would be a simple, "Thank you" to everyone who is keeping up with my adventures in Iraq. As the one over here, I don't always see the interesting story in what we are doing here on a day-to-day basis. I certainly don't find my personal day-to-day life that exciting. But one thing I will admit, it is unlike anything I have ever done before!
In blog news, I'm over 500 readers! Unbelievable! That means that over 500 times y'all have had so little to do that you've checked in to see what, and how, I was doing; simply amazing! My goal when I started was to have an easy way to send news back to a few folks at home. Selfishly, I just didn't think I'd write enough e-mail to everyone to stay in touch and thought that if I had one central news location I could keep folks at home informed with the least amount of effort on my part. And now, my site has had over 500 hits!
The polite response I suppose would be a simple, "Thank you" to everyone who is keeping up with my adventures in Iraq. As the one over here, I don't always see the interesting story in what we are doing here on a day-to-day basis. I certainly don't find my personal day-to-day life that exciting. But one thing I will admit, it is unlike anything I have ever done before!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Happy Birthday Bro!
Well, another year has passed and my little brother is still trying to catch up to me. Happy Birthday there little Bro! I sure hope you skipped work and went fishing or something equally frivolous today. Your birthday present is on the normal brother timeline which means I'll probably buy it and give it to you when I get back from Iraq next year. I wouldn't want to set any new standard and get you something on time or any nonsense like that! Seriously, I do hope you have a great birthday and next year we can celebrate with two lines in the water and a cooler full of cold beer.
In addition to it being my brother's special day, I received a key to my permanent trailer today! Whoo hoo! I should be moving in tomorrow and I'll post some pictures once I'm settled in. It might be a few days before I can post though as I don't think the Internet is working there yet and posting to blogs is blocked from my work computer. But, regardless, I'll work something out before too long.
Finally (it was a banner day today) I received my first mail - another whoo hoo! When I came back from my morning meetings there were four boxes on my desk. Three were from Elizabeth and one was from Margaret Anne. Thanks so much! I left almost all of the candy and munchies in the office so others could help me graze. I'm glad the U.S. Postal Service doesn't charge postage by the calorie!
A pretty fantastic day for a Monday I must say. And again, Happy Birthday Bro!
Cheers, Pearl
In addition to it being my brother's special day, I received a key to my permanent trailer today! Whoo hoo! I should be moving in tomorrow and I'll post some pictures once I'm settled in. It might be a few days before I can post though as I don't think the Internet is working there yet and posting to blogs is blocked from my work computer. But, regardless, I'll work something out before too long.
Finally (it was a banner day today) I received my first mail - another whoo hoo! When I came back from my morning meetings there were four boxes on my desk. Three were from Elizabeth and one was from Margaret Anne. Thanks so much! I left almost all of the candy and munchies in the office so others could help me graze. I'm glad the U.S. Postal Service doesn't charge postage by the calorie!
A pretty fantastic day for a Monday I must say. And again, Happy Birthday Bro!
Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Sunday musings
I hadn't realized it had been over a week since my last posting (my Mom e-mailed and subtly hinted that I was overdue for some new posts). Sorry 'bout that, the time just got away from me. I've been busy this past week but I think things have evened out so I'll work on getting more frequent news to y'all.
Sundays here are the one day of the week that has a different feel. We try to have a more relaxed morning schedule and come in later to make it more of a half day of work to give folks a chance to go to church and have a little bit of a break. I really enjoy having that break in the week and making time for God in a place where I sometimes have to be very deliberate about finding Him. Tonight will also be a special time as some of us Navy guys are being hosted by my Chief to grill some steaks and drink some near-beer at his trailer. He and his roommate have really made their place homey and even have a small deck out front. Speaking of trailers, I should be moving into my new digs early this week and can really settle in for the long haul.
It was a good football weekend except for brother Chris' Tigers. Auburn can't seem to get it together this year (and for your birthday weekend too - bummer there Bro). But my Memphis Tigers won handily against Jacksonville State and Troy beat up on Oklahoma State. In case you didn't know, history was made at the Memphis-Jacksonville game where the first female official in a Bowl Subdivision (Division I) football game (Sarah Thomas, a veteran high school official in Mississippi) served as the line judge.
Finally, I just finished my latest book, "Joan of Arc" by Mark Twain. Yep, that Mark Twain. I have found it to be a wonderful read (written as a first-person observer by one of Joan's closest friends) and Twain felt it was his best work. In his words, "I like 'Joan of Arc' best of all my books; and it is the best; I know it perfectly well. And besides, it furnished me seven times the pleasure afforded me by any of the others; twelve years of preparation, and two years of writing. The others needed no preparation and got none."
Cheers, Pearl
Sundays here are the one day of the week that has a different feel. We try to have a more relaxed morning schedule and come in later to make it more of a half day of work to give folks a chance to go to church and have a little bit of a break. I really enjoy having that break in the week and making time for God in a place where I sometimes have to be very deliberate about finding Him. Tonight will also be a special time as some of us Navy guys are being hosted by my Chief to grill some steaks and drink some near-beer at his trailer. He and his roommate have really made their place homey and even have a small deck out front. Speaking of trailers, I should be moving into my new digs early this week and can really settle in for the long haul.
It was a good football weekend except for brother Chris' Tigers. Auburn can't seem to get it together this year (and for your birthday weekend too - bummer there Bro). But my Memphis Tigers won handily against Jacksonville State and Troy beat up on Oklahoma State. In case you didn't know, history was made at the Memphis-Jacksonville game where the first female official in a Bowl Subdivision (Division I) football game (Sarah Thomas, a veteran high school official in Mississippi) served as the line judge.
Finally, I just finished my latest book, "Joan of Arc" by Mark Twain. Yep, that Mark Twain. I have found it to be a wonderful read (written as a first-person observer by one of Joan's closest friends) and Twain felt it was his best work. In his words, "I like 'Joan of Arc' best of all my books; and it is the best; I know it perfectly well. And besides, it furnished me seven times the pleasure afforded me by any of the others; twelve years of preparation, and two years of writing. The others needed no preparation and got none."
Cheers, Pearl
Friday, September 7, 2007
A young people's war
I don't think that I'm unique in having a mental age of being about 25-ish. I imagine most people who are over 25 have a mental age of being about 25. I think I'm pretty young and certainly don't feel like time has passed, or is passing, me by. But, occasionally, the young people give you their opinion of your age...
Today I was in a brief about different kinds of imagery that was available for our use in planning and executing missions. It was pretty interesting, some was new information, some I already knew. When we got to one collection platform the briefer said, "Fortunately, they don't usually use the wet camera system - it's too slow and not real-time. You know, wet film that has to be taken out to be developed. I'm sure your parents all had a camera like that when you were a kid."
What?! My parents might have owned one when I was a kid? What does that mean if I owned one? Am I suddenly old?
Then I glanced around the room. All of us LtCol types had hurt expressions on our faces and all of the other soldiers had no expression - they took the briefer's statement as fact, as if they were all thinking, "Wet film. Hmmmm. Isn't that a lot like black and white TV? I've heard of such a thing, but never actually seen it."
I think I'm going to head down to the PX and see if they have any Geritol.
Cheers, Pearl
Today I was in a brief about different kinds of imagery that was available for our use in planning and executing missions. It was pretty interesting, some was new information, some I already knew. When we got to one collection platform the briefer said, "Fortunately, they don't usually use the wet camera system - it's too slow and not real-time. You know, wet film that has to be taken out to be developed. I'm sure your parents all had a camera like that when you were a kid."
What?! My parents might have owned one when I was a kid? What does that mean if I owned one? Am I suddenly old?
Then I glanced around the room. All of us LtCol types had hurt expressions on our faces and all of the other soldiers had no expression - they took the briefer's statement as fact, as if they were all thinking, "Wet film. Hmmmm. Isn't that a lot like black and white TV? I've heard of such a thing, but never actually seen it."
I think I'm going to head down to the PX and see if they have any Geritol.
Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, September 2, 2007
A new home and other Sunday news
Well, the Army came though an I'm out of my tent. While I'm not in my permanent trailer (another three-ish weeks or so), I am in a trailer. Whoo hoo! It's not too bad and I have plenty of room (no roommate - it's good to be an O-5!) It is not quite the plush luxurious quarters I had on Diego Garcia, but considering I'm in Iraq during a war, my humble abode is just fine. The best part is the only person snoring is me. Ah, the good life.
I also have an office over with my unit and the commute is about a three minute walk (my permanent quarters will be about a 20 second walk). I have a Navy Chief Petty Officer as an assistant although right now he's really running the show while I learn the ropes. He's been here a while and knows who's who in the zoo and just where to go for just about anything. Gotta love the CPO Mess! I have him to thank for my new quarters more than the Army. They didn't see anything wrong with tent living - go figure. Anyway, Chief has been a Godsend and life is pretty good right now. Now that we finally have our computers and phone hooked up, I guess I'm going to have to earn my pay. I must add though, it sure feels good to be part of an operational unit again. Too much staff work gets old.
I began attending the Anglican service here on base today. It was a small crowd for service (about eight or so) but it was nice to be using the Book of Common Prayer again, even though we used Rite I. It felt very comfortable and familiar to be back in a regular worship environment after so much travel and unsettledness. I think we even had wine for communion although I'm not quite sure if it was bad wine or bad grape juice. It sure wasn't what we use at home! But, our little congregation sang and celebrated and enjoyed our afternoon fellowship (service is at 1PM).
With all of the new happenings there are still somethings that never change. The University of Memphis lost a heartbreaker to Ole Miss yesterday in football and it's still about a thousand degrees here. It's always important to be able to count on some things in life.
Cheers, Pearl
PS - I think I'm going to have to root for Appalachian State this year as well - Go Mountaineers!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Regular life
Until now, I've had some sort of structured event or new thing to blog about. However, one thing I haven't really touched on is regular life. Since I'm finished with training and just beginning to turn over into my new job, which means there isn't a lot of other news right now, I thought I might let y'all in on what it's like here right now.
I'm still in my tent waiting to move down to my trailer with my new unit. Hopefully tomorrow but that's been the story all week. When I was in training the tent was full to bursting but as other folks have moved on to their units, there are only a few of us nomads still hanging out here. It's not too bad as far as tents go (it has very good air conditioning) and is surrounded by giant concrete walls just like everything else here (protection). As a matter of fact, in tent city it is one giant maze of concrete walls and tents and it isn't always straight forward to get to the laundry or shower trailers.
One perk of getting into my job is I finally have some wheels! Mom, see, I told you I was going to get a Hummer some day! (My mom is a tree hugger extraordinaire and thinks Hummers should be banned. I keep pointing out that the Hummer is a perfect symbol for a capitalistic society - it's fun to get her mad sometimes - he he he). My HUMVEE is one of the original non-armored trucks and is only for use on base to cart me around. I have to admit, it is a beast to drive and I'd much rather have one of the non-tactical vehicles (i.e. Suburban) rather than having to wear my kevlar helmet just to drive to the PX (that's a traffic law here - seatbelts and helmets in tactical vehicles).
Speaking of the PX, we have a few on the complex but the one closest to my tent is the largest by far. It has a variety of items but not necessarily the brand you might want. The other day I went to buy some soap and they had about a hundred bars of Dial. That was it. Dial. I bet there were 30 brands of shampoo but only one brand (and type) of soap. Such is life during war. I can't complain too much though, I did stop in at the Cinnebon trailer this morning and get a Seattle's Best Mocha Cappuchino this morning for my 'commute' to work.
That's about it for now. I'll add more 'normal stuff' in future postings along with (I hope soon) pictures of my new address.
Cheers, Pearl
Saturday, August 25, 2007
You never know...
I was in my final phase of training this week when one of our briefers seemed familiar to me. I wasn't sure until I saw his introduction slide to his brief but then I knew. I'd bumped into "Grease." I've never met Grease before but I feel like I knew him pretty well. As a matter of fact, he's the reason I started this blog.
When I originally received my orders for this assignment, I had an insatiable appetite for information and sat in front of my computer at home trying to find out anything and everything about this place. One of the sites I came across was a blog called thelandlockedsailor.blogspot.com written by "Grease." Now, here he was standing there in person. After his brief we talked for a bit and I introduced myself and told him how helpful his blog had been for my preparation (his latest blog entry tells this same story). The take away from all this for me is two-fold: 1) You never know the impact you'll have on someone else, and 2) There are a bunch of us in this thing together. I hope to keep both of those lessons in mind during this tour and beyond.
Speaking of training, I passed my test yesterday (yep, no kidding, there was a written test) and now I'm certified to head off to the Army and do good. I hope to be moving to my unit this weekend and begin putting into practice the training I've received to date.
One final note. Our class had the benefit of a visit by a general during our training. While the specifics aren't important (and he was speaking with us casually) I can say there are a lot of good things being done over here by everyday soldiers that aren't making headlines back in the States. The general mentioned a couple by name and they were stories that on first hearing sound like thriller fiction. However, they are representative of the work average American soldiers do when presented with extraordinary circumstances. I hope to live up to their standard.
Cheers, Pearl
When I originally received my orders for this assignment, I had an insatiable appetite for information and sat in front of my computer at home trying to find out anything and everything about this place. One of the sites I came across was a blog called thelandlockedsailor.blogspot.com written by "Grease." Now, here he was standing there in person. After his brief we talked for a bit and I introduced myself and told him how helpful his blog had been for my preparation (his latest blog entry tells this same story). The take away from all this for me is two-fold: 1) You never know the impact you'll have on someone else, and 2) There are a bunch of us in this thing together. I hope to keep both of those lessons in mind during this tour and beyond.
Speaking of training, I passed my test yesterday (yep, no kidding, there was a written test) and now I'm certified to head off to the Army and do good. I hope to be moving to my unit this weekend and begin putting into practice the training I've received to date.
One final note. Our class had the benefit of a visit by a general during our training. While the specifics aren't important (and he was speaking with us casually) I can say there are a lot of good things being done over here by everyday soldiers that aren't making headlines back in the States. The general mentioned a couple by name and they were stories that on first hearing sound like thriller fiction. However, they are representative of the work average American soldiers do when presented with extraordinary circumstances. I hope to live up to their standard.
Cheers, Pearl
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Baghdad
My apologies for the lack of recent posts but I’ve been quite busy since I left the States.
My first stop was Kuwait where we received more training in weapons and convoy operations. Also, it was time to acclimatize to desert conditions. While South Carolina was oppressively hot, especially with normal Southern humidity, the desert is an entirely different experience. During our time in Kuwait it was 120 degrees but no humidity which wasn’t too bad at first. However, when the wind blew, it was hot too, and so it was like walking in a convection oven. On top of that, during our training we were wearing our full complement of gear so instead of just being uncomfortable, we were often outright miserable. I do need to add, the training was top-notch! We learned more varsity level tactics and procedures than we had
in South Carolina and the emphasis in Kuwait was much more real-world focused than we’d had before.
My favorite part of the training in Kuwait was the convoy training. When I was a kid, there was a TV show called “Rat Patrol” about a Special Forces unit operating in the desert during World War II. The team would drive around like mad in their jeeps conducting their operations. When my dad would play golf, he would sometimes let me drive the golf cart and he always said I drove it just like the soldiers in “Rat Patrol” (meaning I drove toward every hill and obstacle at full speed like a maniac). Well, I got to enjoy real-life “Rat Patrol” in the desert – it was a blast!
I was a truck commander and our truck’s mission was to provide security for the other trucks in the convoy. At the first sign of any threat we got to go racing off road into the desert and close in on our target. Keeping in mind the seriousness of the training, it was still a great time!
I finally arrived in Baghdad last Sunday and am going through the final week of training before moving to my ultimate assignment. It looks like I will be with a Stryker unit here in Baghdad. The Stryker is a light, eight wheeled armored vehicle that carries an infantry squad into combat. From what I hear the Stryker guys are a great group of soldiers and I should really enjoy my assignment. Also, once training is complete, hopefully I’ll be finished with tent living and will finally get some place a little more permanent to call my own. But, as with many things in the military, it isn’t true until it happens!
The base here is huge with constant activity. An interesting thing for me is the contrasts. Here we are with a base built around an area where Saddam Hussein had his palaces (as a matter of fact one of his palaces is the headquarters) and nearby is a PX with Taco Bell and Cinnebon trailers. There is a sign near the PX that says, “No ID card, No Weapon, No Ammunition – No Admittance!” We are actually required to be armed wherever we go including shopping and eating. In the evenings we can wear our work-out gear around, but I still have my pistol strapped to my leg. Vehicles of all sorts, from tanks to armored personnel carriers to Humvees to armored semi trucks are always driving around going here, there, and everywhere. And, while there are military folks as you’d expect, there seem to be just as many civilian contractors doing everything from working the PX to cooking our food (the civilians are easy to spot – they don’t have guns!)
Well, I think that brings me up to date. Hopefully I’ll be able to be a little more routine with posts now that my traveling has stopped. I have no real idea what “normal” days will be like but I am sure I’ll be busy which should hopefully make the time go by faster. I appreciate all of the well-wishes and prayers; please keep them coming and make sure you include prayers for the 20-year-old corporals who are doing the dangerous work over here.
Cheers, Pearl
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Patriotism at 3:00AM
I'm finally on my way via charter flight enroute to Kuwait. Along the way we stopped in Bangor, Maine for a fueling top-off before crossing the Atlantic and I'm able to take advantage of the internet in the terminal to get one last entry in before I leave the United States. This will be a quick entry but I want to tell one story about my experience here in Maine.
We were all required to deplane during our quick layover. As we walked down a long corridor into the main terminal, there was a line of about 10 people, mostly men with ballcaps that said, "Korean War Veteran" or "Vietnam Veteran" or even "World War II Veteran" just standing there to shake our hands and welcome us to Bangor. They were here to greet us, as they greet every planeload of servicemen and women, even at 3:30 in the morning. Kinda got me choked up a little. It is certainly a small jesture on their part, but the impact, at least on me, was quite large. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan might not directly affect every American as other wars in our country's past, but whatever their political leanings, whatever their views about this particular war, the Maine Troop Greeters were here to let us know that ordinary citizens are greatful for the service of those of us heading out into harm's way.
It sure is a nice send off.
Cheers, Pearl
We were all required to deplane during our quick layover. As we walked down a long corridor into the main terminal, there was a line of about 10 people, mostly men with ballcaps that said, "Korean War Veteran" or "Vietnam Veteran" or even "World War II Veteran" just standing there to shake our hands and welcome us to Bangor. They were here to greet us, as they greet every planeload of servicemen and women, even at 3:30 in the morning. Kinda got me choked up a little. It is certainly a small jesture on their part, but the impact, at least on me, was quite large. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan might not directly affect every American as other wars in our country's past, but whatever their political leanings, whatever their views about this particular war, the Maine Troop Greeters were here to let us know that ordinary citizens are greatful for the service of those of us heading out into harm's way.
It sure is a nice send off.
Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Weekend and heading out
Sorry it's been so long since my last post but things have been a bit busy plus I've had a very special weekend.
Last things first, after training wrapped up this week, Elizabeth came down for the weekend. What a wonderful opportunity to see each other one more time before I head over to the Mid-East tomorrow. We had a lovely time in visiting and trying different places to eat (that was a big one for me since I've been eating dining hall food for the past two weeks)! As a matter of fact, last evening we started with a sushi appetizer at one restaurant and then drove over to a tapas bar and had some tapas and a nice Chilean, rich, red wine. It was simply divine! We also did a little shopping (I bought some more books so look for new titles on the sidebar coming soon) and just generally enjoyed being around each other. We're a little sad this morning sitting in Starbucks having our coffee on the way to the airport but not too sad; we had a great weekend and I can't think of a better way to be sent off.
The second week of training was much more practical than the basics we learned the first week. We had everything from battlefield first aid to land navigation to convoy operations (truck convoys, not ship convoys - another opportunity to learn new terms and tactics). The second week was fun in a way but also brought home more that we are all heading into harm's way. The training was much more focused and the emphasis was on ways to operate effectively and come home safely. As a matter of fact, on the last day the drill sergeants went around shaking everyone's hands and wishing God's speed. It was a nice way to wrap things up. Tomorrow we all pile on a chartered airliner for the 17 hour flight to theater.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the weather here. I think last week I posted that it was hot here. Well, hot doesn't even begin to describe it. This week has been the hottest in history - we set new highs almost every week and Columbia was even specifically mentioned on national news. I have to say, I know it will be hot in Iraq, but good gracious, there's no way it can match the combination of heat and humidity here! Our first formation is almost always before sunrise and even then we are sweating just standing around waiting to begin training. Again, I know it will be miserable hot when I get to Iraq, but in a way, I'm looking forward to the change - sad isn't it!
I don't think I'll have internet access for a while so don't be disappointed if there's not a post for a while. I'll be back up and running as soon as I can. My next post will be from the big beach with no water!
Cheers, Pearl
Last things first, after training wrapped up this week, Elizabeth came down for the weekend. What a wonderful opportunity to see each other one more time before I head over to the Mid-East tomorrow. We had a lovely time in visiting and trying different places to eat (that was a big one for me since I've been eating dining hall food for the past two weeks)! As a matter of fact, last evening we started with a sushi appetizer at one restaurant and then drove over to a tapas bar and had some tapas and a nice Chilean, rich, red wine. It was simply divine! We also did a little shopping (I bought some more books so look for new titles on the sidebar coming soon) and just generally enjoyed being around each other. We're a little sad this morning sitting in Starbucks having our coffee on the way to the airport but not too sad; we had a great weekend and I can't think of a better way to be sent off.
The second week of training was much more practical than the basics we learned the first week. We had everything from battlefield first aid to land navigation to convoy operations (truck convoys, not ship convoys - another opportunity to learn new terms and tactics). The second week was fun in a way but also brought home more that we are all heading into harm's way. The training was much more focused and the emphasis was on ways to operate effectively and come home safely. As a matter of fact, on the last day the drill sergeants went around shaking everyone's hands and wishing God's speed. It was a nice way to wrap things up. Tomorrow we all pile on a chartered airliner for the 17 hour flight to theater.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the weather here. I think last week I posted that it was hot here. Well, hot doesn't even begin to describe it. This week has been the hottest in history - we set new highs almost every week and Columbia was even specifically mentioned on national news. I have to say, I know it will be hot in Iraq, but good gracious, there's no way it can match the combination of heat and humidity here! Our first formation is almost always before sunrise and even then we are sweating just standing around waiting to begin training. Again, I know it will be miserable hot when I get to Iraq, but in a way, I'm looking forward to the change - sad isn't it!
I don't think I'll have internet access for a while so don't be disappointed if there's not a post for a while. I'll be back up and running as soon as I can. My next post will be from the big beach with no water!
Cheers, Pearl
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Pictures
I think I've figured out how to publish pictures finally.
This is me all dressed up for duty in the Narmy (That's what we've taken to calling all of this duty - Navy/Army = Narmy). The big wad on my helmet is my sand goggles and their cover. The armor is only the basic front and back vest and I don't have on the side plates, groin protector, neck collar, and arm wraps in this picture. I'll try to get a picture of that configuration and show you just how much protection we wear. All told, the armor is about 40 pounds - ish.
The next picture is the entree from a MRE (Meal, Ready-to-eat), in this particular meal, chicken and dumplings. We often have these for lunch so we don't lose training time going back and forth to the DFAC (Dining Facility - what we call a "Galley" in the Navy). Most of the MREs aren't too bad (including chicken and dumplings) but some aren't quite five star rated (such as "Imitation Pork Ribs, Boneless" - I haven't had the pleasure of that one yet but the folks that have said they think it must be the stuff that doesn't make the cut for dog food and so the Army gets it).
This is our reflexive fire training. Here, instead of taking precise aim like you would to shoot a stationary target when you have lots of time, here we are shooting with minimal aim at close range, pop-up targets. We started back about 25 meters and advanced up to about 7 meters where you end up just shooting from the hip. The targets pop-up left, right, and center so you had to train over and back to engage. I really liked this training since it was different than any other shooting than I'd done before and seemed more realistic than qualification shooting.
Speaking of qualification shooting, here's the M-16 range. Like I said in an earlier post, the targets are displaced left and right and sometimes pop up alone, sometimes in pairs. Here, the target at 150 meters is easy to see (and realtively easy to hit) and if you look way in the distance, you can see the 300 meter target. (I labeled it for you here; the Army didn't have those big yellow arrows for us!) It is every bit as small in real life as it appears here. I even managed to hit it a couple of times but the Army Sniper School still hasn't called me up. Hmmmmmm.
Well, those are the highlights so far. Week one is complete and I've enjoyed a nice, hot Sunday off from training. Week two begins afresh tomorrow at 0515.
Cheers, Pearl
This is me all dressed up for duty in the Narmy (That's what we've taken to calling all of this duty - Navy/Army = Narmy). The big wad on my helmet is my sand goggles and their cover. The armor is only the basic front and back vest and I don't have on the side plates, groin protector, neck collar, and arm wraps in this picture. I'll try to get a picture of that configuration and show you just how much protection we wear. All told, the armor is about 40 pounds - ish.
The next picture is the entree from a MRE (Meal, Ready-to-eat), in this particular meal, chicken and dumplings. We often have these for lunch so we don't lose training time going back and forth to the DFAC (Dining Facility - what we call a "Galley" in the Navy). Most of the MREs aren't too bad (including chicken and dumplings) but some aren't quite five star rated (such as "Imitation Pork Ribs, Boneless" - I haven't had the pleasure of that one yet but the folks that have said they think it must be the stuff that doesn't make the cut for dog food and so the Army gets it).
This is our reflexive fire training. Here, instead of taking precise aim like you would to shoot a stationary target when you have lots of time, here we are shooting with minimal aim at close range, pop-up targets. We started back about 25 meters and advanced up to about 7 meters where you end up just shooting from the hip. The targets pop-up left, right, and center so you had to train over and back to engage. I really liked this training since it was different than any other shooting than I'd done before and seemed more realistic than qualification shooting.
Speaking of qualification shooting, here's the M-16 range. Like I said in an earlier post, the targets are displaced left and right and sometimes pop up alone, sometimes in pairs. Here, the target at 150 meters is easy to see (and realtively easy to hit) and if you look way in the distance, you can see the 300 meter target. (I labeled it for you here; the Army didn't have those big yellow arrows for us!) It is every bit as small in real life as it appears here. I even managed to hit it a couple of times but the Army Sniper School still hasn't called me up. Hmmmmmm.
Well, those are the highlights so far. Week one is complete and I've enjoyed a nice, hot Sunday off from training. Week two begins afresh tomorrow at 0515.
Cheers, Pearl
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