Thanksgiving edition!
So, it is my first thanksgiving not spent back home with my family. It would be cool to be back home, but I am still excited to finally be out here in Iraq. Not homesick too much, I only arrived in Kuwait two weeks ago.
My day started off by touring the sector with the Commanders personal security detail (PSD). He wanted to wish all the soldiers in the Battalion a happy thanksgiving, and they though it would be a good opportunity for me to check out the bases in our sector. I figured out that our sector, though very heavily populated, is pretty small, but it is also considered one of the busiest sectors in Iraq in terms of activity. From what I did see of the city from inside the MRAP (haven't patrolled on foot yet), it reminds me of China town: Open markets and stores, boxes of produce and food stuffed on pallets in the sidewalk, can't understand anything written on the store fronts, and dirty. A very very condensed china town full of Iraqis. The traffic is not that great either, especially with the occasional convoy rolling by. It was a little disconcerting being around so many cars and people, but it seems like the shia extremists don't really want to blow us up when so many of their own people are around us.
I got a chance to meet my new CO (commander/ company level) when I take over a platoon in a month or so. He seems pretty intense, and told me it will "start sucking" once I become a PL. The "suck" refering to... sucking... hard to explain. I am looking forward to it, and I wish it would come sooner than later.
Other than that, I will just be "a fly on the wall" for the next week, trying to absorb as much knowlege as possible about the area.
Finally, the thanksgiving meal I had was superb. Crab legs, steak, shrimp, deep fried turkey, etc. It was a damn good meal, especially coming out of a random ass post in the middle of Iraq. I stuffed myself and passed out for about an hour before I could function again.
Hopefully I just got my pay raise...
OUT
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
In the City center
I finally have arrived to my unit in Sadr City. The base only takes up a few blocks of real estate, and it is right in the heart of Sadr City. I just took a look outside of the base, and we are pretty much surrounded by the local residential buildings, etc. I arrived last night on a LOGPAC or a resupply convoy. It was my first time "outside the wire" but it went without incident. We were very well defended and were riding in MRAPS- the army's newest armored vehicle.
When I arrived, I got the chance to meet the Commander and a bunch of other people who work up in staff. The commander seems to have much respect over here and I was told he was probably the best battalion commander in the division. He gave me a quick welcome, and told me I will be shadowing him for a couple of weeks, getting a feel for what is going on in the area. I will be riding with his personal security detail or PSD. After that, I will probably work in Operations, helping out the S-3, and then sometime in January or February, I will finally get a platoon.
Yup
When I arrived, I got the chance to meet the Commander and a bunch of other people who work up in staff. The commander seems to have much respect over here and I was told he was probably the best battalion commander in the division. He gave me a quick welcome, and told me I will be shadowing him for a couple of weeks, getting a feel for what is going on in the area. I will be riding with his personal security detail or PSD. After that, I will probably work in Operations, helping out the S-3, and then sometime in January or February, I will finally get a platoon.
Yup
Monday, November 24, 2008
Getting closer
Finally got choppered to Camp Taji. The Blackhawk ride was really interesting... we got a real nice view of Baghdad from the air. For the most part, Baghdad is really worn down, roads are not that great, trash everywhere, palm trees everywhere... but it seemed like everyone was going about their business as if it were any other city. The largest and nicest things to look at from the air were the Mosques. The ride didn’t take too long, and we actually stopped at another small base on our way to Taji.
Taji itself is huge, used by Saddam’s henchmen back in the day. There is a lot of mud everywhere, not too much sand. Not going to be here for too long though, finally should meet up with my unit, for real this time.
So far, my contact with Iraqi's has been positive. They work on base, handling some of the day to day duties (food service, sanitation, etc). Like most Arabs, they are a very relaxed, care free type people, "Inshallah!" They are friendly, respectful, and I would not suspect them of trying to blow me up. But what I have realized is, it is the few bad apples (in this phase of the war) that are still ruining the peace, many of them not even Iraqis. With that said, I will still keep on my toes, but for the most part, I think I may enjoy being around them.
Yup
Taji itself is huge, used by Saddam’s henchmen back in the day. There is a lot of mud everywhere, not too much sand. Not going to be here for too long though, finally should meet up with my unit, for real this time.
So far, my contact with Iraqi's has been positive. They work on base, handling some of the day to day duties (food service, sanitation, etc). Like most Arabs, they are a very relaxed, care free type people, "Inshallah!" They are friendly, respectful, and I would not suspect them of trying to blow me up. But what I have realized is, it is the few bad apples (in this phase of the war) that are still ruining the peace, many of them not even Iraqis. With that said, I will still keep on my toes, but for the most part, I think I may enjoy being around them.
Yup
Friday, November 21, 2008
The safest-most dangerous city
So, I am here at Camp Striker (next to BIAP or Baghdad International airport) a little longer than I thought I would be. Seems like it takes a while to set up a chopper flight- the earliest I will be out of here will be Sunday. I should be headed to Camp Tajji, which is north of here, on the other side of the Tigris River near Sadr City. From there, I will meet my unit, which could be right at Tajji, or at two other COPs or Combat Outposts (sort of like a mini military base) in the heart of Sadr City. Sadr City, from what I have been hearing, has made huge improvements in security and infrastructure. I actually met my Battalion Commander today, and he told me I should be headed to Charlie Company, which I know nothing about, but I am very excited to be going because it almost certainly means that I will finally get a platoon!!
In the mean time, me and the 5 other soldiers with me headed to 1-6IN (my unit) have nothing to do… so to keep us busy, I started PT (physical training) sessions with them and also gave them a class on EOF or escalation of force. Going to try to do PT with them twice a day and give 1-2 classes a day just to keep them (and myself) actively engaged. Should help us keep our focus and be ready for the long hours of patrolling ahead of us once we get to our unit.
Finally, I made a crap load of money this month. Let’s just say being in a combat zone and being paid for living in Germany (while in Iraq) has its benefits. By the way, I get promoted in a few days as well. Chi-CHING!
OUT
In the mean time, me and the 5 other soldiers with me headed to 1-6IN (my unit) have nothing to do… so to keep us busy, I started PT (physical training) sessions with them and also gave them a class on EOF or escalation of force. Going to try to do PT with them twice a day and give 1-2 classes a day just to keep them (and myself) actively engaged. Should help us keep our focus and be ready for the long hours of patrolling ahead of us once we get to our unit.
Finally, I made a crap load of money this month. Let’s just say being in a combat zone and being paid for living in Germany (while in Iraq) has its benefits. By the way, I get promoted in a few days as well. Chi-CHING!
OUT
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
War is Hell?
We loaded up the C-130 in Kuwait (very uncomfortable, reminded me when I flew in one during airborne school) and headed to BIAP (Baghdad International Airport). From what it seems so far, Baghdad is held down very well by the coalition forces. Multiple walls of reinforced concrete line the airport and line all the buildings at Camp Striker (where I am staying temporarily till I link up with my unit in a few days). I have not been "outside the wire" yet, but from people I have talked too, Baghdad has been relatively quiet lately, and many places have a returned to a semblance of normalcy.
Camp Striker is quite extraordinary, but since we have been in Iraq since 2003, it makes sense. The DFAC (Dining facility) is possibly the largest DFAC in the world, bigger than the one in Kuwait. It has very long hours, comes fully equipped with all the Gatorade, energy drinks, taco’s, ice cream, potato chips you would need, has decent food in the short order and main order lines…, and just like Kuwait, it has a bunch of American fast food restaurants, PX, random souvenir shops, wireless internet everywhere, etc.
…too bad I won’t be staying there, haha. Probably a good thing, so I don’t spend my money on pointless things.
Hopefully, I will be out of this place by either tomorrow or the day after and finally meet up with my unit.
Camp Striker is quite extraordinary, but since we have been in Iraq since 2003, it makes sense. The DFAC (Dining facility) is possibly the largest DFAC in the world, bigger than the one in Kuwait. It has very long hours, comes fully equipped with all the Gatorade, energy drinks, taco’s, ice cream, potato chips you would need, has decent food in the short order and main order lines…, and just like Kuwait, it has a bunch of American fast food restaurants, PX, random souvenir shops, wireless internet everywhere, etc.
…too bad I won’t be staying there, haha. Probably a good thing, so I don’t spend my money on pointless things.
Hopefully, I will be out of this place by either tomorrow or the day after and finally meet up with my unit.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
An Ocean of Sand
Someone brought it up earlier, and others have agrees... thus far, Kuwait seems like I am at the beach, an endless beach... with no water. We went on a little run with the group of soldiers from Baumholder, and we ran far enough that all I saw was sand off to the horizon. Strangely, I felt as though I were back home in California, going for a run along the beach. The weather is exactly like California weather at the moment: 70+ degrees in the daytime, down into the 60s and night. Yes, I have yet to be here for an extended period of time, but as of now, I feel almost as though I am at home, a comforting feeling.
Of course, things may become different very quickly, so I will be preparing for that as well.
Of course, things may become different very quickly, so I will be preparing for that as well.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
So, I got a house, bought a car (Opel Omega- GM’s European brand), got my satellite broadcasting AFN (Armed Forces Network- US Broadcasts brought to service members around the world), set my house up nice, stocked the refrigerator…. And I get sent to Kuwait! Haha
It’s all good though, I wanted to be here sooner than later. Kuwait is not bad at all. The base we are on has a bunch of fast food chains, a huge PX, recreation rooms, wireless internet, gym, etc. Someone one told me that this place is Disneyland compared to some of the FOBs (Forward Operating bases- the posts where people are stationed in Iraq). The weather is really nice right now as well. It seems to be a nice 70 degrees all day long, and gets into the 60s at night… maybe cause it’s the winter time… dunno.
So, now I am just going to do some more training, and then in a week or so, I should be meeting up with my unit. Good stuff, all is well thus far.
OUT
It’s all good though, I wanted to be here sooner than later. Kuwait is not bad at all. The base we are on has a bunch of fast food chains, a huge PX, recreation rooms, wireless internet, gym, etc. Someone one told me that this place is Disneyland compared to some of the FOBs (Forward Operating bases- the posts where people are stationed in Iraq). The weather is really nice right now as well. It seems to be a nice 70 degrees all day long, and gets into the 60s at night… maybe cause it’s the winter time… dunno.
So, now I am just going to do some more training, and then in a week or so, I should be meeting up with my unit. Good stuff, all is well thus far.
OUT
Monday, November 3, 2008
Old things become new again
Went up to Hohenfels, Germany last week for IRT (Individual Readiness Training) or pre-deployment training. The training was alright, the instructions were very knowledgeable. It did not really teach me anything new, but I was able to brush up on some of the basic tasks I will be conducting in Iraq. The week went by real fast.
After we got back, we headed up to Koln with a new edition to the LT crew, Geordan, and his wife. I met him at RTB when we were on holdover. Koln is one of the largest cities in Germany, and there was alot to see, but we only had a short time to see it. The Cathedral in the center of the city was awesome. Not as big as the one we saw at Metz, but it was much more pleasing to the eye. We came in during a service, and when the organs went off with the choir in the background... breathtaking. It was a nice experience. When we first got in, we basically went on a pub crawl/ Restaurant bar crawl. Had some good beer, good wine, good times. Also visited an old Gestapo prison, Very cool stuff. Saw the small stagnant cells the prisoners were held, the torture chambers, etc. Very eerie, but educational.
The most embarrassing thing about the weekend was my crash course in driving a manual transmission car. When I first got it at the rental shop, I decided to take the opportunity to learn how to drive. It was a roooouuggh time trying to get the car out of the parking lot. Driving on the autobahn was no problem, but the stop and go of the city and some of the hills in Baumholder... made for a bumpy ride. When we rode into post last night, I was stalled at the gate, and kept stalling for about 10 minutes until I finally was able to get the car going... everyone was cracking up.. got to learn sometime right?
OUT
After we got back, we headed up to Koln with a new edition to the LT crew, Geordan, and his wife. I met him at RTB when we were on holdover. Koln is one of the largest cities in Germany, and there was alot to see, but we only had a short time to see it. The Cathedral in the center of the city was awesome. Not as big as the one we saw at Metz, but it was much more pleasing to the eye. We came in during a service, and when the organs went off with the choir in the background... breathtaking. It was a nice experience. When we first got in, we basically went on a pub crawl/ Restaurant bar crawl. Had some good beer, good wine, good times. Also visited an old Gestapo prison, Very cool stuff. Saw the small stagnant cells the prisoners were held, the torture chambers, etc. Very eerie, but educational.
The most embarrassing thing about the weekend was my crash course in driving a manual transmission car. When I first got it at the rental shop, I decided to take the opportunity to learn how to drive. It was a roooouuggh time trying to get the car out of the parking lot. Driving on the autobahn was no problem, but the stop and go of the city and some of the hills in Baumholder... made for a bumpy ride. When we rode into post last night, I was stalled at the gate, and kept stalling for about 10 minutes until I finally was able to get the car going... everyone was cracking up.. got to learn sometime right?
OUT
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