Home of the Free Because of the Brave

The Unsung Heros

2009-10-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

I proudly serve in the USAF. I do what I do for my own reasons. None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of my wife and children. They don't always understand, but they have NEVER left my side, let me forget how proud they are, and how much they love me. I stumbled across this poem and couldn't think of a better way to say thank you. I love you guys.

The Silent Ranks
Author: Unknown
I wear no uniforms, no blues or army greens But I am in the Air Force in the ranks rarely seen

I have no rank upon my shoulders - salutes I do not give But the military world is the place where I live

I'm not in the chain of command, orders I do not get But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget

I'm not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line But my job is just as tough. I'm the one that's left behind

My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man And the call to serve his country not all can understand

Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep this country free My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do our kids and me

I love the man I married, Soldiering is his life But I stand among the silent ranks known as the Air Force Wife

Life With My New Team

2009-10-15T03:38:00.000-07:00

Old Glory

Very common way of life here

Burned out trucks from an attack

We just finished our longest mission to date and it is good to be home again. We covered about 650 miles in 7 days. That doesn’t sound like much, but a lot of that was done at less than 15 mph. If you saw some of the “roads” over here you would understand why. I spent the trip in the gunner’s turret again so I got some good pictures. We provided security to the ANA troops who were taking soft shelled ambulances downrange to different locations. Driving with the ANA is something that I would describe as interesting if I was using a polite term. We had several unscheduled stops for bathroom breaks, stops for sodas and water, or just to say “Hi” to someone they recognized walking on the side of the road. We even stopped so they could pick up passengers. The problem is they would stop unannounced in the middle of town or nowhere, and we would have to block traffic and do security halts. That makes for some unhappy commuters. It got better as our commander would have conversations with the ANA commander at the end of every day. This is just part of their culture. Outside the wire our senses are heightened as we feel threatened. This is their home and they feel comfortable. Family and friends are very important to them, so it’s natural for them to stop and say hello. It was a lesson for all of us.
We have been working on a big project for the last 2 months and it has finally come to a close. We put together the first annual ANA combat medic competition for the entire country. We had medics from all over the country come and compete in a 4 day competition that included medical lectures and exercises to firing at the range. I was in charge of the range and put together a program for them to shoot their AK-47s. Some of them did really well while it was obvious that some of them had never fired a weapon before. Even so, they all said they enjoyed it.
We had a CSAR team come in and educate them on the proper way to approach a helicopter and load and unload patients. Hopefully this will keep anyone else from walking into a chopper blade. They also learned how to mark a landing zone in case they had to call in a medevac.
The competition ended with a mountain run carrying their medic bag and completing 3 medical scenarios along the way. I was part of the security team that climbed the mountain and set up the station at the top. We had to take a crew serve weapon with us and I carried the ammo for it. With my IBA, weapon, ammo and supplies I had at least 100 extra pounds on my back on a climb from 8000 to just over 9600 feet. It smoked me and I consider myself to be in decent shape. It was something that was on my “to do” list while I was here and I’m glad I did it. The ANA medics that ran the course made it look easy. They gained my respect in a big way. Not only during the mountain run, but during the entire competition. They are smart, eager to learn, and some of the heartiest, smallest guys I have ever met.
After everything was over we had a big feast to celebrate. Their hospitality was second to none as we dined on goat, vegetables, and Nan bread. They would not eat until our entire team went through and served ourselves first. We brought a huge cake and bunch of sodas to share with them. They loved the cake. Some of them went through the line just to get cake and nothing else.
The last week has been a blur and I enjoyed every minute of it. It may be over, but I take every handshake, smile, and thank you with me. I feel good about what we accomplished as a team. More importantly I feel good about what they learned and what they take away from the competition. After some much needed sleep it’s back to work with my new team and on to our next mission.

Four Day Roadtrip

2009-09-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

Dowtown Kabul
Me

My office

Women with children begging in the middle of the highway

My truck

Downtown Gardez

Round About in Gardez

Terra Pass

These kids didn't throw rocks so they got Gummy Bears

We just got back from a four day mission that included stops at five different FOBs, covered three different battle spaces, represented every branch of service except the Marines, and included people from the US and Romania. It was successful as everyone came back safely and the trucks are still in one piece. We did have some issues, but it was really cool to get out and see parts of this country from the ground. It’s hard to wrap your mind around this culture and way of life. It would be neat to explore some of the cities and geographical features, but that won’t happen anytime soon. We got a lot of thumbs up, but there were still people that would spit on our truck as we drove by.
This trip I got to do something I never would have imagined doing six months ago. I was the only one qualified on both weapons systems in our truck so I ended up being the gunner. The longer I’m over here the more my training at Ft Riley gets used. I had an M-2 (.50 cal), a 249 SAW, an M-4, and an M-9 at my disposal with more ammunition than I knew what to do with. My driver was a medic and boy could he wheel that big truck. The streets of Afghanistan really aren’t made for big trucks like that, but he made it look easy and took good care of me.
Our first day was pretty uneventful and we made really good time. Kids would line the streets when they saw us coming and most gave us the thumbs up sign. I did a lot of waving and gave a lot of thumbs up back. A lot of the adults would wave too, and that makes me feel like we are making some kind of progress. I saw literally thousands of goats, a bunch of donkeys and even a few camels. I guess some of the donkeys and goats were special because some of them had varies parts dyed different colors. The best one was a white donkey with a pink mane.
The second day we headed out on a road that made a plowed field seem smooth. I was really surprised I wasn’t peeing blood by the time we made our destination. We had some green passengers, but no activity during our trip there. On the way back it was a different story. We weren’t more than 15 minutes into the ride and someone lost their lunch in the back of our truck. I was really glad I was up top and didn’t see it or have to smell it. I felt bad for my driver so I helped him clean things up at the wash rack when we stopped for the day.
The third day we made a few stops at some really interesting places. One of the FOBs was like a little Italian village that had little court yards and mazes of walk ways between the buildings. They even had a Thai restaurant we ate at. It wasn’t the best, but it was a nice change from the DFAC. After our meetings were done at this location we headed out to a French FOB. Our Romanian friends had some business to attend to and I bought some gummy bears, to be used later, and some chocolate. Day four began with a trip to the education center. I have been doing my course 14 online for Master Sergeant and I needed to take a test. One of the officers that was with me needed to take a test also so we both figured why not since we were there anyway. We both passed and then got ready to head back to our home FOB. I got my “office” ready with all my essentials like water, soda, pop tarts, and my gummy bears. I made good use of the candy by tossing them to the kids that lined the road on the way back. It was the same reaction as I see in my kids’ faces when they open presents at X-mas. If all it takes is some candy and a tattoo here and there it is well worth the effort. We had a few tense moments on the trip home, but managed to make it back safe and not fire a single shot. And I know this place is only temporary, but until the day comes when I rip out there is no place like home.

Taking a Break

2009-09-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

Our new promotee with her "bling."

The ANA sure travel "light."

Afghanistan sunset

"Heater" for pool.

Going for a swim.

Steps to the pool.

My team has had the opportunity to partake in some special occasions recently. It’s nice because for a while you can forget where you are. There are plenty of daily reminders to let us know this isn’t Kansas, so the chance to get away from it for a while is always well received.
Our first opportunity was a BBQ put on by a group of guys that have a camp close to ours. We were invited to hang out, listen to music, and enjoy some good food and good company. We had hamburgers, brats, chicken kabobs, and corn on the cob right off the grill. We also got to go for a swim in their homemade pool made out of a fuel bladder. It was complete with a 12ft deep end, filter system, and very unique heating system. After our Afghan swim we tossed a football around and even broke out a Frisbee! For most this does not sound like a big deal right? Well, for us this was like kicking back in the backyard with some friends. Something we all miss and haven’t done for a while.
The second occasion was a promotion party for one of the Navy people on our team. We had the traditional military ceremony with an Afghan flair to it. We invited our ANA counterparts and interpreters and they gave her some “bling” to go with her promotion. After the ceremony we were invited to feast on authentic Pilipino cuisine at their little compound. This was some of the best food I have had and I had to come to Afghanistan to get it!
I am really glad to be part of this Med ETT. On an average day we exhaust ourselves trying to squeeze out one small improvement over the performance of the previous day. We deal with death and destruction of the human body on a daily basis and still seem to keep our spirits up. It is in no way, shape, or form as fierce as combat, but the elements of danger and stress are still there. My hat is off to the guys out there fighting the fight. That goes for my American brothers in arms and our ANA soldiers. I don’t think the people back home realize how dedicated the ANA soldiers are to riding this country of Taliban trash. I see their war torn bodies come in on helicopters and I see their medical staff work on them every day. They may not be up to American standards in either area, but the look on their faces say that they would really like to be and we are doing our damnedest to show them how.

Struggle For Progress

2009-08-24T22:10:00.000-07:00

One of my rides
Our version of Wal-Mart

Our trauma team at work

Have you had your dose of retard today?

My experience as a mentor continues to amaze me a does the excitement level of such a little base. There are days when my job is very similar to herding cats. Other days little miracles happen in the form of progress and we celebrate them like a Super Bowl win. I seem to be in a constant struggle with my original "problem child." His idea and my idea of what needs to be done don't always match. I have taught him an American saying that I use quite often. I call it raising the BS flag. Half my day is spent at the hospital working with my ANA counterparts and the other is spent back on the FOB taking care of administrative duties. I have made a lot of contacts in the two months I have been here and hope it will help the Med ETT that will take our place. I have seen many different FOBs and it gives me a good idea where I need to take my counterparts to teach them the skills they need to break into modern medicine. I think that is one of the best parts of my job. It helps break up the routine and helicopter rides are way cool!

The bad guys continue to surprise us with attacks in the night. I have been through five attacks in two months and have seen everything from mortars to VIEDs. They are a crafty bunch and they are almost impossible to identify. This has got to be how it felt in Vietnam. I pass hundreds of locals in a day’s time. Some of them work on the FOB and you can’t help but wonder if one of them had anything to do with the last attack.

I LOVE MY WIFE!!!!!!!!! She is the best and has been sending me care packages since day one. It’s amazing how a box from home can make a person’s day. I told my boss I wouldn’t care if it was full of TP I would still be happy as hell to get it. The elections had interrupted our mail runs for a while and it was beginning to show on people’s faces. The good news is the elections are over and the mail has resumed a “normal” schedule. The elections went better than planned. We were really expecting some nasty stuff, but business was not as good as we thought it would be. In this case bad business is good business.

A Few Things I have Learned

2009-08-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

Leaving Phoenix-again
My adopted Norman-awesome kid

Lots-o-bling

BAF accomodations

Chinook gunner

Here's your sign

Luncheon and end of the line for the goat

I can tell the difference between five different helicopters and five different MRAPs by sound.

I can determine whether the mortars are inbound or out bound by the sound of the thud. I also know what kind of damage an RPG will do when aimed properly.

I smell good compared to the general population over here.

There are some people that genuinely appreciate us being here and I hope that is contagious.

Taliban are not easy to pick out of a crowd. Taliban are also spineless pieces of fecal matter. The horror they inflict on their own people is quite disturbing.

Goat meat tastes like…steak (you thought I was going to say chicken).

Our interpreters are under rated. They work long hours for what would be peanuts to us. I have learned more from them then I thought possible.

IEDs are non-discriminating regardless of race, religion, age or sex.

MRAPs do exactly what they are designed to do. Let’s hope this continues.

Afghanis are extremely hospitable and very loyal. Their word is as good as a contract and they expect the same in return.

Most Afghanis drive everywhere like it’s a life or death situation. Sometimes it is; they just don’t know it’s theirs.

My CST training at Ft. Riley was not a total waste of time. Friends you make at training become family.

Afghanistan children can throw rocks like nothing I have ever seen before with great accuracy. This talent is usually displayed after telling them you don’t have any candy.

Afghanistan is the leading opium producer in the world yet they refuse to prescribe pain medication to patients that desperately need it.

Inshallah (God willing) is really a way of life over here…with everything!

Weapon safety is not a high priority with the Afghan Army, but blinging their truck, tractor, trailer, or weapon out is.

If you don’t like tea when you get here you will by the time you leave.

On top of being badasses, ODA guys throw an awesome BBQ and they can make a 15ft deep pool out of a fuel bladder, complete with heater and filter system.

Every person that “plays” professional sports needs to donate their salary from one game to one of the gunners, route clearers, or EOD guys over here.

Anyone that says they like to deploy and they don’t miss their family needs to have their head examined, or they don’t like their family. Not a second goes by that I don’t think about mine and how much this sucks being away from them.

First Site Visit

2009-07-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

A shot from the Chinook

Here comes my ride

This is my favorite picture

This sure beats a convoy

I just realized that I have been here for about a month and a half. Time seems to run together here and it is very hard to stay on top of what day it is. In a way that is good because it seems to be going by fast. In a way it’s bad because it is easy to lose a day and each day is a slow but steady step towards progress. If one is lost valuable mentoring time is gone.

I recently made a trip to Salerno to do a site visit for a program we are starting. In fact, I just got back today. It is in the eastern province of Khowst. The day before I left Lightning Gardez was exploding (literally) with activity. The day after I get to Salerno Khowst tried to explode. Several suicide bombers were killed in Khowst before they could detonate their bombs. It’s always good to hear they were taken care of before they detonated themselves taking innocent lives with them. The same day we got hit with mortars and RPG’s. When the first one hit I was in my bunk with my headphones in. I literally thought someone was shaking my bed to get my attention…until the sirens started going off. I threw my gear on and headed over to the hospital to see if there was anything I could do. I ended up pulling perimeter security and got to watch another mortar land about 50 meters, plus or minus, in front of me. At the same time this was going on a plane with some of the New England Patriots cheerleaders was trying to take off. I can just imagine what they were thinking. They were at the FOB for a USO tour.
It’s good to get back to my little closet of a room on Lightning. I hit eight different FOBs on my way to Salerno and it's nice to be "home." It may be small, but it has things in it that make it feel somewhat like home. I have enough of my family represented to remind me exactly why I am over here doing this. It does not make it any easier to be away from them, but I have seen enough smiling faces and shook enough hands to know what we are doing here is a good thing. Each day I have a conversation with a different ANA soldier and learn more about this culture and why they live the way they do. It’s amazing how they survive.
We are working on some more big projects. Some may actually make the news. I’ll keep you posted with details as I can. It would be nice to turn on the news and see something positive about this country.

Dear Mr. Bad Guy...

2009-07-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

I wanted to express my gratitude to the wake up call received at O-shit-30. While I do appreciate your concern about us being here I would like to prescribe a few remedies for your insomnia and urge to wake us that are sleeping. Both are rather simple and differ in levels of effectiveness. The first one comes in pill form and goes by the trade name Ambien. It is easy to take and works within 15 minutes. The second method is much more permanent and comes in the form of a F-15. As you are well aware, it's effects are immediate and by far my method of choice in regards to your sleeping disorder. Not only does it accomplish the task at hand, but it provides a fireworks display that would rival any 4th of July celebration. Either way, sweet dreams.

A World Away

2009-07-07T08:29:00.000-07:00

They "bling" out everything from tractors to trucks
A traditional bathroom...yeah, I think I'll hold it

My workplace for the next six months

Another day has gone by in the world of Afghanistan. I say world because at times it feels like we stepped into a time machine and ended up in a different world. We are trying to do our best in a place that is totally foreign to us in every sense of the word. Judging by the look on the Afghan people’s faces they feel the same when we try to explain how things are in the states. From complex things like handling a trauma to something simple like picking up a broom in the hospital hallway the level of difficulty seems to register the same. I guess it could be worse. I could be in a kindergarten level map reading class like some Lt. I know. That’s right bunkie, I’m talking about you. Before I get too ahead of myself I need to explain my staff that I work with.
In the states pharmacy school is a very daunting task to accomplish. It takes a certain level of intellect and a great deal of determination. Here you just have to know the right people. One of my “pharmacists” was enlisted and not a pharmacist last year. This year he is a major AND a pharmacist. He comes from a wealthy family. He hasn’t produced any documentation, but I’m sure that is just as easy to procure. He is my problem child at the moment. He insists that this country will never change and we are wasting our time. I have to remind myself about the history of this war torn country and not take it personally. I didn’t travel thousands of miles leaving my family at home so I could come and get a door closed in my face. I’m sure it will be the first of many. My predecessor explained his trials and tribulations to me and explained you just have to keep kicking them down if they don’t open up. I can do that. When it comes to expectations I told my staff I have one word: progress. I will accept nothing less.
The rest of my staff consists of a couple nurses that were assigned to the pharmacy by their commander and a few more legitimate pharmacists. A few of them are on board with the vision we are trying to create. Hopefully they can help me persuade my problem child. If not it could be an even longer six months than expected. Damn dry country!

Different, But The Same

2009-07-04T01:18:00.000-07:00

I've been in country for a short time and already feel as though I have learned volumes. One lesson taught me as different as we are, they are still people just like us. Recently one of our interpreters lost his 5 month old daughter which is a perfect reflection of their infant mortality rate. We had the honor of being invited to what would be the equivalent to a memorial service for her. It was as heart wrenching as if it were one of our own. Grieving knows no cultural boundries.

Patience, Patience, Patience

2009-06-29T23:33:00.000-07:00

The word of the day is...you guess it patience. My job involves working side by side with the ANA in a mentor role. The culture is different to put it mildly and it takes a special approach to get through to them. The problem is this country has been doing things this way for such a long time it is a major stretch for them to see things differently. I have the opportunity to take on some major projects that would positively affect the way they take care of their people. I am excited and overwhelmed all at the same time. But then again I have nothing but time. Here goes jumping in with both feet.

No Longer Jobless, Just Homeless

2009-06-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

We have a purpose!!! We have jobs!!! I never thought I would be excited to say that. I was beginning to worry about some of my teammates. You can only read so much, play so many games, workout so often, and "Base X" is only so big. Cabin fever was starting to set in. Tell tale sign was counting down until the next time we got to eat at the dining facility.

I am really excited about the challenges of my new job. I will get to do some things here that would never be possible in the states. All of us will get the chance to interact with the people of this country in some way and that is exactly what our training prepared us for. It's nice to know that the time we spent in Kansas wasn't wasted.

Currently we are in temporary housing stacked like wood. The next item is finding something a little more permanent. I don't want to spend a lot because I know I'm not staying, but...just kidding!! Housing goes by rank, so we'll see how that goes. We are doing fine where we are now, but it would be nice to have some space to call our own for a while.

I should have an address soon, so if you would like it contact Jill and she can get it to you. A big thanks to everyone taking time to think about us and wish us well. Not just my team, but everyone over here. It means a lot to know people back home are behind us. I appreciate everyone reading my blog and really like the comments. As silly as it sounds it's almost like getting something from home.

Will Work For...

2009-06-24T04:10:00.000-07:00

We've been hanging out in country just shy of two weeks now. Some members of our team have gone on to their FOBs and begun working. The rest of us are sitting in limbo waiting for the word to leave. We have a meeting soon, so next time I post HOPEFULLY the rest of us will be at our FOBs. I am with a great bunch of people. I believe I would have gone out of my mind without the camaraderie of our group. We all just want to get to work. Did I just say that?!?!

In Country

2009-06-16T23:27:00.000-07:00

We have arrived in country and we have started in processing. If there's one thing for certain it is everything changes. We have had some changes to our itinerary since we have arrived and should find out some specifics soon.
It is such a different world over here. You can look at all the pictures or sit through every briefing, but until you have actually laid eyes on this place you can't really grasp what this culture is like. This will be an educational six months. And anybody that is unhappy about living in the USA should come stay here for awhile. I bet most would change their mind.

On Our Way

2009-06-11T20:30:00.000-07:00

We left Anchorage Wednesday and arrived in St. Louis to spend the night. The Air Force considers Elmendorf an overseas base requiring us to be in St. Louis 24 hours prior to our load date. It is hard knowing I will be away from my family for six months, but seeing my team again makes it a little easier. These guys have become my second family and we take care of each other like brothers. We have pretty much picked up where we left off in Kansas.
So here we sit in Virginia at one of our many stops waiting to leave the states. We have a long day of flying ahead of us so it will be interesting to see how jet lag will affect us.

GRADUATION!!!

2009-05-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we graduate!!! Good bye Kansas and hello home for a few days! Now the trick is getting all of our newly acquired gear into five bags that we will have to carry. Good thing I have been doing cross fit. Our bus leaves for Kansas City International at 0300 on Saturday morning.
My team has been the best bunch of people I have ever trained with bar none. If it wasn't for their humor and dedication this would have been an unbearable 76 days. I wish each of them the best and pray for their safe return home when this is over.

To My Biggest Fan

2009-05-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

The End Is Near

2009-05-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

Norman and "Doc"

Wax rounds meet arm

Wax rounds meet leg

My driver hard at work

Our last training mission

We're at the end of our training and they saved the best for last. This week we did close combat marksmanship and urban operations. Close combat consisted of shooting 25 meters or less at bad guys. We practiced walking, turning, acquiring our target and quickly engaging. It was broken up into two different areas. The first one was on the range and everyone had a lane. The idea was to get everyone to identify the enemy target and two tap them with our M-4, drop our M-4 to the side and draw our M-9 and two tap the second target. We did this during several scenarios and not one person had a negligent discharge. I was nervous when we first started. The Air Force would never trust this many people on a range spinning around and firing at the same time.

The second half was an area set up with a building with windows, barricades, and a truck. We ran this area in pairs and started in a low crawl position. The range person would yell at us to get up and we had to run to the building and position ourselves to the inside of the windows. Then we took a defensive position and fired four shots at targets 100 meters out. Then we changed sides and fired left handed the same way. We did this at the barricades and then across the hood of the truck. It was quite the rush because they had smoke and mini explosions going off all the while. This would get us ready for our next section.

Our last section was urban operations. We learned how to clear a structure in teams of 4 or 5. The capstone to the day was clearing a house with a couple of "bad" guys holding up somewhere inside. Did I mention we got to shoot wax rounds at the bad guys? Unfortunately they were shooting at us too. Our first round went as expected and we got shot up pretty good. I have to give the privates that were playing the bad guys credit. They could shoot! I got pegged in the leg 5 times while running from the top of a stair well into a room across the hall. Thank God for body armor because they were going for crotch shots. I love my groin protector. And I'm sure Jill is thankful for it too.

Our second run went much better now that we knew what to expect. There was still some hesitation from some team members that didn't want to get shot, but a little colorful persuasion from other team members helped them find the motivation they were lacking. I took a couple hits in the arm before I took out one of the bad guys hiding in a closet. We walked away a little bruised, but educated on the importance of clearing all areas of a structure. Now all we have left is clean up and turn in. It will be nice to slow down for a few days. Which means in a few days I get to go home and see my family. It's been harder than I expected to be away from them. I don't know how people do this on a regular basis. I know Jill and I don't always see eye to eye on everything, but I appreciate every minute I have with her and the kids.

This will probably be my last post until I get in country. I have to see what the Internet situation is like there and that will determine how often I post. I'm glad I could keep everyone that followed along entertained and hopefully you got an idea of what my time at Ft. Riley has been like. I appreciate the Army and everything they do, but holy crap I am glad that I am blue!

Army's Video Game

2009-05-18T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today we got to do a special mounted combat patrol. We patrolled an area that is set aside with pop up targets, moving vehicles, IED's, villages, everything a person could ask for. I am the radio guy for the patrol and I am responsible for sending info to the higher command and to our patrol so I run the mission with a radio on each ear. I have to ask permission to start the mission and then I report any contact and how we handled it to the command post, any medical reports, and IED/UXO reports. I pass back info to the team from the higher ups to keep them on the same page so we know what we are driving into. We were set up in four 1151 up armored HMMVS and sent through two different times. Our first run was with blanks so we could get a feel for our target areas, where our check points were and how to keep safe spacing. We had a mission brief and we discussed our objectives and set out to accomplish them without shooting anything that didn't need to be shot. Really our main objective was to get a better score than the other Air Force team that went through last week. I'm not going to lie!
Our blank run went alright and we were told what we could do better during our "critique" by our OC that was in charge of us. We were determined not to make the same mistakes twice.
Our live run went much better. Our gunners shot the hell out of everything that needed to be destroyed (1200 rounds total) and our communication was awesome. We ended up with a perfect tactical score which is hard to get for an Air Force team, but we got it. And yes, we beat the other Air Force team. I really enjoy being the communication for our patrol. It is far from anything I have ever done, but I feel confident I can do it successfully in a heated situation. We had everything thrown at us in a 15 minute window and I kept everyone alive. That is a sign of teamwork at it's finest.

Nine Training Days and Counting

2009-05-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

"Doc" on his MRE chair
Posted in the dining hall

LtCol Weatherspoon presenting me with my line number...it'll be awile, but it's mine!

This week we finished up our combat life saving skills section and started the formal training for mounted combat patrol. Our capstone for CLS was a simulated mortar attack on a DFAC building with several casualties inside. The building was considered unstable and we had to get everyone out in less than 2 minutes. It sounds easy enough, but there were some obstacles in our way. We were in full battle rattle, the building was full of fake smoke and the building was approximately 40x60. I was on the recovery team with my driver as my partner. We entered the building and it was like closing your eyes. I couldn't see my hand if it was right in front of my face! I immediately grabbed the strap on the back of my partner's IBA and followed him around the building calling out for injured people. Their were about ten simulated casualties inside and time was not on our side. There were chairs and tables turned over inside so you did your best to climb over things without getting twisted up. Once we located everyone and carried them outside we began triaging and treating them. We transferred them to the CCP and called in our nine line medivac and saved the day. We kicked ass and it was obvious during our hot wash. Our instructors praised us and told us we did everything by the book. She couldn't find anything to fault us on. This was very important to me because this was our first major task with our new leader. I wanted him to look good and I wanted him to see what kind of team we were. Mission accomplished.

The last part of the week was the beginning of our mounted combat patrol. We went over all the steps for planning a mission and walked through it just like we were in country. I'm a truck commander and the radio guy for our patrol. I get to funnel everything up to the Battalion Commander. This could be anything from an I.E.D report to a T.I.C (troops in contact) report to a medivac request. This is good practice for me because this is more in line with what I can expect to be doing. I have to admit it's a rush and I like this better than manning a gun turret.

This week will also be memorable because promotion results came out and my name appeared on the Master Sergeant list. My current commander and 1st shirt presented me with a certificate and my line number. This is the second promotion I have gotten while Jill and I have been apart. I told her I would have to be deployed when I make Senior Master Sergeant too. I can't tell you exactly what she said, but it was a solid no.

I have to thank Jill for giving me the time to study for this promotion. I missed a lot of events because of study time and she picked up the slack and did without me for basically six months prior to my test date. I can never tell her how much her support means to me, but I plan on proving it to her for the rest of my life. Life in the military is unpredictable to say the least and she has always been there by my side with a " bring it on" attitude. The sacrifices are great and so is my family.

Kane's Disciples Gets a New Leader

2009-05-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day that put Kane's Disciples to the test. That's our team name. We named ourselves after our combat arms Army E-8 that was on our team. He has always pushed us beyond our limits, but in a very subtle way. He was what was called a bench guy which means he was waiting for a team to pick him up for either Iraq or Afghanistan. He got picked up last week so he took some leave to go see his family before he starts this all over with his new class. The Army has a weird way of doing things. Now that you understand our name on to the story.
Our leader was having a rough time despite some heart to heart talks by several people including me. Things went from bad to worse with an incident that had to be investigated. So the Lt Col from our Air Force team called an emergency team meeting and had to make a change. We now have a captain from the other team as our team leader for the remaining two weeks. Anytime you bring a new person into a group that has reached the level of cohesion we have it could mean trouble. Fortunately for me I am surrounded by professionals that want to do the best job they can and the captain has a very good attitude about the switch, so I think we'll be alright. I think the Army plans these things on purpose. I have been pushed to my limits in so many areas since I have been here. And I thought I was getting a break from pharmacy drama. Silly me. I can only imagine how things will be in Afghanistan, but I hope I am prepared. Thirteen days of training left and it's on to the show.

The Countdown Has Begun

2009-05-11T03:35:00.000-07:00

Saturday was intended to be a "fun" day. We used a fancy GPS and did a land navigation course that encompassed some of the skills we have learned along the way. We had to use our Dari, our combat lifesaving skills, we encountered an I.E.D and had to call it in and we had to show our knowledge of certain weapon systems. We were in full battle rattle and it turned out to be 10 mile hike when it was all said and done. After our hike we finished up our leader engagements and the rest of the weekend was ours. We are definitely on the down side of training. We have 19 total days and 14 training days left, not that anyone is counting. It feels like we have been here for a lifetime and it will be nice to bid Kansas good-bye.

Our First Patrol Mission

2009-05-07T17:03:00.000-07:00

Waiting to roll out on our mission

MK-19 training rounds
Those little specks are targets to shoot at

This is how we shot the MK-19

This is Lt. Minick's bunk. He went out of town for the weekend. We re-decorated for him.

This week started with our final day at the range, but with a twist. It was worked into a mission we had to plan. Our day started with a a trip to the range to shoot the MK-19 and then on to two different villages. One village was friendly and one was not. Very typical of what we could see on our summer vacation. We did our mission brief and loaded up to head to the range, our first destination. I was the truck commander for truck 3. I have a driver (that I hand chose myself) and a gunner. It's alot different than taking a trip to Wal-mart. I keep in contact with all the other trucks, check speed and distance, watch for I.E.D's, call in med evacs, I.E.D's, and dismount if needed. Jill would be so proud of my multitasking skills. We made it to the range without getting hit, so everyone could relax for awhile.

Our time at the range was the shortest of any ranges, but it was still fun. We got to get acquainted with a grenade launcher and shoot practice rounds at targets form 400-800 meters. That went really quick and then it was alot of waiting for our turn to head down the road to our villages. The call came and we mounted up to roll.

We didn't even get 100 meters out of the parking lot and we came up on an I.E.D. After clearing it with E.O.D. we moved on to the friendly village. It didn't seem that friendly to me. It got alot more friendly when our gunners started pointing their weapons at them. There were still people on phones making things very realistic and we knew we were going to drive into something. Two more I.E.Ds later and we were in the next village. We hooked up with some ANA troops and dismounted to check things out. I felt better knowing my gunner was keeping an eye on me. We gathered our intel and headed down the road and that's when it hit the fan. The truck in front of me got hit by an I.E.D and we started taking fire from both sides. The "insurgents" were shooting at us with paint balls. My driver took one right in the windshield. My gunner took out two bad guys and we pulled up and defended the blown up truck and ended up taking out the rest of the bad guys. Our mission Endexed and we rolled back to Camp Funston.

It was an educational trip and a taste of what we will be seeing in the weeks to come. Unfortunately the rest of the week is classroom and will be very boring. Bring on the coffee!

The Day that Didn't Want to End

2009-05-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Lt Minnick is happy we finally get to roll in Humvees

This is what happens when you have boredom set in on the weekend

Not your average Wal-Mart purchase.

Yesterday was a marathon day, but a great day for the Air Force of Camp Funston. It was a range day and the Air Force team had the most qualifiers out of all teams including the Army and Navy. The 1st Sgt had no problem telling the Army and Navy they were getting their butts kicked. It was nice to put them in their place. They waste no time razing us because we are the blue and not the green.
We started by convoying out to the range at 0530. Once we got there we had the mandatory safety briefing, don’t shoot anyone or any of the wildlife, etc. We started with the 249 S.A.W. It shoots the same caliber as our M-4 just at a faster rate. The range was set up with Humvees parked sideways on the firing line. The guns were set up in the turret of the trucks and they would get changed as we progressed from weapon to weapon. Mother Nature stepped in for a while and halted firing with a lot of rain and some fancy lightening. The rain and lightening show subsided and we got back to business a little wetter than we started. After everyone got a chance to shoot the 249 we moved on to the qualifying weapons, the 240B and the 50 cal. The day qualifying consisted of targets from 400-800 meters. I love this weapon system. If I could buy one I would. I day qualified with ease after I did a barrel change. When I started my shooting table it would only shoot single action, so I had to do a barrel change and continue firing. All I can say is adrenaline is your friend.
After the 240B I moved on to the 50 cal better known as Ma Deuce. There are so many things I could say about this monster. It is by far the most intimidating, biggest, baddest, hand full of a weapon I have ever shot before. We got to shoot targets from 400-1000 meters. It was amazing how much it takes to shoot this thing! I was sweating by the time I got out of the turret. I qualified and headed to the truck to wait and enjoy a tasty MRE (they are actually A LOT better now than the first ones I had years ago).
Nightfall came and it was back to the line. We had 154 people shooting so the process was quite lengthy. The night shoot consisted of the 240B and the 50 cal with thermal scopes. They use heated targets so they show up a bright green. This was even better than day firing. I only missed one target with the 240B, at the same distance as day firing, and hit 70% of my targets with the 50 cal. So now I am an official qualified Army gunner. I guess I could put that on my resume.
The range was fun, but as I said earlier a very long day. We spent 23 hours there in full battle rattle. Adding an extra 40 pounds to your body weight for a day takes its toll on a body. By the end of the night people were falling asleep 15 feet from the 50 cal gunners while they were firing. It was good to get back to the dorms and get out of all of our gear. We turned in our weapons to the arms room for the weekend and made it to bed by 0500 Friday morning. Thank God it’s the weekend. I’ll need it to recover.

Out Come the Big Guns

2009-04-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

Today was great!!! We got to play with the big toys. Out came the 249 S.A.W, 240B, and 50 cal machine guns. We spent the morning learning each weapon system inside and out. I can break down a 240 and have it back together and function checked in a minute 30 seconds. Not too bad for an Air Force guy. We have these weapons mounted on our Humvees so it's nice to know how to use them and take care of them. After we spent enough time on those we moved our focus to the AK family. That is pretty common weapon system over there so we needed to be familiar with those too. The afternoon was time set a side for the gunners and assistant gunners to go play in the simulator. I'm an assistant gunner so I got to go have fun. I felt really comfortable with the 240B. The sights on the 50 cal take some getting used to. After I got the hang of it I was splashing targets at 900 meters. Hopefully all of this training will help because tomorrow we spend the day and night out on the range qualifying. This will also be a first because we will convoy out to the range. The staff has already said they will try to ambush us and hit us with I.E.Ds. We had our I.E.D class yesterday, so it's all coming together. Our instructor was very informative. He used clear roads before mounted combat patrols went out so he has some experience with the subject. He doesn't have a lot of love for the people that place them strangely enough...funny how that works.

Another day on the range

2009-04-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

Now that the M-4 qualification was a success it was time to move onto the M-9. I use the term success loosely. Nobody got shot and everyone qualified, even if some people needed their magazines over loaded to do it. I was more worried about the M-9 because pistols usually tend to be harder. Normally not everyone shoots with a pistol, just the M-16 or the M-4.
The course was pleasantly different with pop up life like targets. In the Air Force paper targets are the norm. The targets pop up in ranges from 5 to 25 meters. In the qualifying round they actually line us up in our lane and have us move in on our targets shooting as we progress. It was really cool, but kind of unnerving at the same time because you have no idea what the skill level is of the people shooting beside you. It ended well with over 150 people qualifying in less than 4 hours.
The rest of the week was spent learning about detainees. We had some classroom time and then we got to practice our newly learned skills in a mock Afghani village scenario with an interpreter. It was a very eye opening experience.
It’s amazing to think I have been here for over a month now. I look back at what I’ve learned and feel confident about the progress our team has made in some areas. I also see how we have regressed in other areas. I am doing my best to keep us all on the same sheet of music. We are over half way done and I look forward to the challenges the Army has for me. I really look forward to shooting the 240, 249, MK-19, and the 50 cal at vehicles out on the range. I get paid to blow things up. I love this job!

Getting Army Qualified

2009-04-26T20:11:00.001-07:00

This week was all about qualifying with our weapons the M-4 and the M-9. We learned everything we need to know about the how they function and how to care for them. We also concentrated on shooting fundamentals. Everything was really great except the class size. They really squeezed us in and that made it difficult when we bore sighted our M-4s with our PEQ-2 and M-68.
The day before we hit the range we all had to shoot on the simulator to check our grouping. It’s all computerized and was like a very expensive arcade game. You have to get your grouping within a certain area to make sure our fundamentals are strong. Some people had breathing issues and others had pull issues. I got a good grouping with the first round and felt pretty confident going to the range.
We had to qualify day fire and night fire with the M-4 so that was first on the range schedule. Any time I get to go to the range and fire I feel guilty for getting paid. I could have spent the whole day on the line. I was in the first group to zero in and got done pretty quickly. I zeroed with iron sights first and then with my M-68.From the zero line I got to go up the hill to the qualification line.
Army ranges are much different than Air Force ranges on so many levels. I got to do things on the Army range that would have shut down an Air Force range. And the language is much more colorful on an Army range. The target system is different too, but in a good way. We got to shoot at life like pop up targets that ranged from 50-300 meters in three different firing positions. I felt pretty good about shooting on a range I wasn’t familiar with and scored sharp shooter. I was done with day fire. Unfortunately, being in the first group means you have to wait for the rest of the people to go through. I was on the bench by 1000 and I was there until the last person qualified at 1530. It took the last person 11 times to finally get a qualifying score. After everyone was done we came back to Camp Funston to eat and get ready for night fire.
We headed back out to the range at 2000 to get night qualification done. Again, I got into the first firing group. Night firing was unlike anything I had ever done before. The targets popped up with a blinking light on the top. We wore our N.O.D.S (night vision) and lined up the laser on the targets and fired. There wasn’t any looking through a scope or sights. I could have used this system deer hunting several years ago! By 0030 everyone was qualified and we headed back to the dorms. It was a long day and we had formation at 0730 followed by a full day of classroom lecture. This was one of the hardest days to date to stay awake.
The class was Basic Fire Support which was very interesting. We learned the radio procedures for ground artillery and airstrikes. We got to play with another video game and call in fire to bomb strategic interactive targets. Zac would have loved it because it actually blows up your target and destroys it. Not your average day working in a pharmacy so I’m still having fun playing Army.

To be continued...

2009-04-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

I will catch up either Thursday or Friday. We have been busy this week firing and time is not a friend. Stay tuned for recap of this week...

Camp Mike Spann

2009-04-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

We are falling like flies. Having forty guys in one bay means you share everything. We call it the CDC. If you have ever taken your children to daycare you know they can’t go a week without getting sick. Whatever “it” is “it” starts off as a cough and then settles in your chest. It’s very stubborn as it took me two weeks to feel normal again after I got it. I lived on Nyquil and Dayquil. This morning we had three people go to sick call and we have five people that are getting over “it”. I’m just glad I got it early and got it out of the way. That would be miserable out on the range.
Our training covers a lot of information, which is good for us. Unfortunately, it is not good when you are trying to blog about it. There are some things that are not sensitive and can be shared. I try to hit the high points without crossing the line. The last couple days I have been in a military intelligence class (I can already hear the jokes) and most of that is classified so I’m not able to tell you about it. I can tell you it was some really cool stuff and I have more toys to play with.
I found out some good information about where I will be heading in Afghanistan. I will be calling Camp Mike Spann home for the next six months. I have been in email contact with the person I am replacing and it sounds ok. The FOB is small and it’s in northern Afghanistan. I will be a RTO or a radio guy. It makes me glad I paid attention in com class. I did some research on it and the person it was named after. Mike Spann was the first person killed in the Afghanistan invasion. He was a former Marine Captain and a CIA guy. If you Google Arlington National cemetery Mike Spann you will find a story about a true American hero.

Driver's Training 101

2009-04-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

I came to this training knowing that the Army has a different way of doing things. Since I have been here I have been reminded of this several times and that’s okay. Thanks to my wife, the info I gathered before departing Elmo has prepared me. It would be easy for me to get wrapped around the axle about the training schedule, but in some cases you just have to go along with it. This week was not any different.
We came back from our four day pass and jumped into driving training. It was broken up into a morning session and an evening session. During the morning session we learned about the 1151, or the up armored humvee. It may look big from the outside, but gear up a 6’2”, 200lb guy and shove him in a seat and it gets tight really quick. After we learned the ins and outs we took our turn with the HEAT. That stands for a roll over simulator somehow. We get strapped into the simulator and get spun around a couple times and end up upside down. The goal is to undo your seat belt, right yourself and open the door and get out. Being tall helped because I wedged my head against the roof to hold myself in place. I was always one of the first ones out. After that fun we got to go out on the tank trails and drive for awhile. I got to drive through a pretty good sized creek. I was thinking about Zac the whole time. Everyone managed to get through the daytime driving okay and we were released until 1900 that night. We all returned after our small hiatus to get acquainted with our NODS (night vision goggles) to take our night drive. We had a lot of fun with that training and then came the waiting. We drove the same trails, but it took 2 hours longer than the day drive. Nobody drove off the trails so I consider it a successful night anyway. And what do we get for a successful night of driving? We got a long walk home to the dorms. And as strange as it may sound it’s getting easier to carry around that extra gear weight.

Four Day pass

2009-04-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

I am back. We all survived our first four day pass. I got to see most of my family. I got to meet my nephew and niece for the first time. My brother and I took his Mustang out for a spin. We have to make that a tradition, Brian. I ate some great food (thanks for the cookies, Jamie). I had an awesome weekend. I miss Jill and the kids terribly, but it was nice to go home. Mom and Dad thank you for everything. You’re the best. I only wish I would've been able to catch up with the Schwenkers. Hopefully next time. Now it’s time to get back into the training mindset. It’s back to business at 0600 tomorrow.

P.S. Thanks for the text, sweetheart. Six more weeks.

Slowly becoming an Air Force soldier

2009-04-08T18:43:00.001-07:00

Our 40 bedroom apartment

Practicing inserting a Nasopharyngeal tube, or nose hose.
Com class final

My MOLLE vest

Yesterday we finished our com section. We set up our radios based on a set of instructions so we could talk to other groups. We were one of the first groups done thanks to the intel and space ops guys on our team. We put the Navy and Army to shame so we are pulling our own weight thus far. Go Air Force…and our two Army team members.
Today we started our Combat Life saving course. It is pretty close to the Self Aid Buddy Care class the Air Force teaches. The Army’s version is a little more hard core. It’s explained as a bridge between a combat medic and a soldier. I’m fine with that part. I do have an issue with one area of the course. We have to start IV’s on each other. Anyone that knows me is aware of my anti-love of needles. I don’t like to give blood and I despise getting labs drawn. So tomorrow I have two things to look forward to. We have a four mile hike with all our field gear after formation and I get to be on the receiving end of a needle. If I can make it through that we’ll pick up our rental car and get ready to head east.
I can’t wait to drive. It’s amazing how you miss the little things that you do on a daily basis. I think the biggest thing that I miss is having my kids meet me when I come home from work. Most of the time I don’t even get out of the truck before one of them comes running out the door to greet me. I take that for granted when I’m home. I guarantee you I won’t anymore. I love my kids…from Arizona to Alaska.

Week One under Our Belt

2009-04-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

There is a saying all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. As a team we took that to heart this weekend and decided to checkout Manhattan. Downtown there is a place called Aggieville and it is the local hangout for KSU. We piled into two vehicles and headed of post for the first time since we got here. I have to say it was nice to get out. Between the two cars we had three DD’s so we were covered. We ended up at a place called Tubby’s which was a sports bar. That worked out good because the final four was on and during a normal week we don’t watch TV. We ate and shared each other’s company in a more laid back setting. Nobody got arrested, nobody got hurt, and we all made it back to post safely.
We are starting our second week at Camp Funston which means one thing; we survived our first week in Camp Funston. And the second week started off with a bang. We started off with formation at 0600 and ended the day at 2000. Today we started our communication class. We are learning the basics of four different radios. Today we covered how to load them so we can use them. Our instructor said we will probably have to dig most of the equipment out of a connex when we get to our location because most people won’t use it. I didn’t think it was that bad. Some of the equipment even had Rockwell Collins on it. It was almost like playing with a little piece of home because I imagine my dad has worked on something just like it in his 40+ years with the company. Tomorrow will be a repeat of today.
I am looking forward to this weekend. We get a four day weekend and we will be on pass. A group of us are getting a rental car and taking off to see our families. I’m dropping off four people at the Kansas City airport and then I’m heading for Iowa. It’s been over two years since I’ve been home, so it’ll be nice to see everyone before I head over. I was planning on going after my training, but we were told our load dates may change. If mine changes I’ll go straight over and won’t have the opportunity to see my folks. My mom might write some nasty letters to the commander of Ft Riley if that happened. It will also be good to get behind the wheel and drive for awhile. I miss that about the lower 48.

What do you mean no forks???

2009-04-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

The gentleman seated is Doc.

My team enjoying our meal.

The last couple days have really ramped up and we’ve had more exposure to the cultural items and events. On Wednesday we had our first staged meeting with Afghan natives. The meeting has a prearranged agenda and it gives us a chance to use our Dari and work through an interpreter. This will be a skill that will be very valuable in a couple months. Working through the interpreter we all agreed we would do some hunting…of Taliban and do some fishing with some RPGs. We had some laughs and drank some tea. It went well for our first meeting and I look forward to our future engagements.
The next night we were in for a treat. We got to experience a native meal and the company of the many good people that prepared it. It was kind of hard for an old guy like me to sit on the floor. The hardest part by far was eating without silverware. But boy was the food good and it was even better talking to our hosts. The more I talk to them and learn about them the more I understand them. Some of them are included in the photos I’ve posted.
One of favorite natives is a guy we call Doc. We call him this for a couple reasons. First, his real name is too hard for us to pronounce and secondly, he is actually a doctor. He was a practicing physician in Afghanistan and he made more as an interpreter.
Today we did a two mile team march in field gear. We averaged 20 min/mile which isn’t terrible. Our goal is to get in the 15 min/mile range. Our first company field march will be next week and I wanted to see where everyone was at. The PT is paying off and the 1st Sgt will have to make someone else cry. I like the way that sounds.

Air Force smart Army strong

2009-04-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

I'm still here. Our days have been getting busier and busier so something had to give. On top of the training I'm busy working with my team leader to make sure we don't give the Army anything to laugh at. Anyone that has been in the service knows the rivalry. I did hear a new one the other day. An Army instructor called us "Chair Force." I gave him credit for being original. The language class is going better and we are all getting a little more comfortable with it. Today we got a surprise and had a guest visitor. An Air Force Senior Master Sergeant was back on R&R and came to talk to us about our mission. He had some pictures and some video footage he talked to. For some it was a sobering moment. I guess if you're not a little nervous there's something wrong with you. I also had my initial counseling session with my Army 1st Sgt. He's the one with the colorful vocabulary. He promised to make any of my team cry that fell out of his marches when we start doing field training. I told him I look forward to it. So to recap training so far I've kept my Lt from shooting himself, my team hasn't gotten any DUIs, they also call me grandpa, and the 1St Sgt hasn't made anyone cry. Life is good.

Salawm

2009-03-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

The training days are getting longer and the responsibility list keeps getting longer. We are averaging 12-14 hour days now as a class. After we get our team goals accomplished for the day my team leader and I get together and hash out the day and plan for tomorrow. We’ve had a few hiccups, but it seems we’re doing better than our sister Air Force team. There still seems to be a lot of storming going on. I’m sure they’ll find a way to move on. That is the key to being successful at the mission we are embarking on.
We are getting to work with a lot of interesting people at this school. Today we worked with a gentleman that goes by the name of “Doc” and he is from Afghanistan. It’s one thing to teach the culture. It’s another to learn it from someone has lived it. And we are slowly being immersed in a way of living that is strange, for lack of a better term, to most of us. We are in the infinite stages of one of the two official languages, Dari. We suck, but everyone still has a really good attitude about sucking.
We did PT in our IBA gear today. We have a psycho Army combat arms guy on our team that is a cross fit junky so he had us out there doing as many pull ups as we could. After our arms were dead we ran 300 meters and started all over again. We did this for 20 minutes, but it felt like a couple days. Actually I was kidding about the psycho comment. He’s a very smart, easy going guy. He pinned on E-8 at his thirteen year mark. He’s about my age and we have a lot in common. He was in Iraq on Election Day on one of his many deployments, so he is a huge asset to our young team. He’s not going with us, so I am learning as much as I possibly can from him. It’s a lot to wrap your brain around at times, but it’s really changed the way I look at the Army.

P.S. Ft Riley is located outside of Manhattan Kansas, they expect us to carry up to five bags and a weapons case, and salawm means hello in dari.

Down day

2009-03-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

Today was a down day as far as training goes. I had homework to do about the Afghanistan culture so that kept me busy for most of the day. And I didn't have Jill to watch the race with, so I didn't even bother trying to get it on our tv in the day room. My Army classmate helped me set up my vest and holster so when we get into field conditions I will be comfortable with my gear set up. After that my buddy Steve and my lieutenant and I put on our IBA and went for a walk to get used to it. We are going to start doing PT in it this week. It adds about 40 lbs to your weight and it is hard to ignore. It's going to be our best friend for 6 months. We finished up our night with a team meeting. I really like our team and I'm hoping we stay together. I know it's a long shot, but it would be nice to work with the people you train with. Tomorrow it's back to school. I hope it doesn't snow.

Let the Funston begin

2009-03-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

My new home for the next two months.

A typical Kansas spring day.

Santa getting ready to ship my M-4 to my dad for an early Christmas present.

Waiting to check out of Custer Hill.

The last two days have disappeared in a blur. Friday began at 0430 in preparation to leave Custer Hill and move to Camp Funston. We had to clear the dorms by 0600 so we had to load all of our gear on the trucks. Once we cleared the dorms it was on to draw our weapons. We left the armory with a M-4 and a M-9.
This was also the day a front started to come through and we were under a winter storm warning. It hadn’t started snowing yet, but it was cold and windy. As soon as we pulled into Camp Funston the snow started to fall. We all needed to file into the auditorium, but to do this we all had to clear our weapons in the clearing barrel. There were 130 of us total with two weapons a piece. It got mighty cold. Once inside we were greeted by the staff and given a glimpse of what was to come. It was definitely a change from life on Custer Hill. After the meet and greet our team was released with the exception of the team leader and the NCOIC. We had another meeting to attend. This was more of a down and dirty meeting that was run by our Army First Sergeant. Now, I don’t know how many of you have had the pleasure of talking to a first sergeant, but if you haven’t you are missing something. They use swear words in ways that I hadn’t even thought possible. I’m glad I’m more of a peer and not a soldier on the other side of his desk getting my butt chewed.
The rest of our team went to turn in their weapons to the armory and then went off to unload the truck. We had also gotten our dorm assignments. I was hoping someone would grab my gear and someone did. I am really impressed at how our team has come together and kept a really good attitude. I hope this continues because according to the first sergeant their butts and my lieutenants butt rests in my hands.
After our meeting the lieutenant and I went to turn in our weapons. After standing in line for 2 hours we had accomplished this and were finally on our way to see the dorms for the first time. By this time it was 2100. I had enough time before lights out to shove everything into my wall locker, make my bed, take a shower, and head to bed. Formation was at 0630 and everyone under the rank of Lieutenant Colonel had to fall out.
We woke up to 4 inches of snow on our first official day at Camp Funston. I was ready to get started with our training. Our first class of the day was taught by a major that could rival the first sergeant. Class went on until about 1430 and I already know more about Afghanistan than I did in all my years combined before this training. This is going to be fun.

Last day at Custer Hill

2009-03-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

Today is our last day in the Custer Hill dorms so everyone is busy trying to pack as much stuff as they can into as few bags as possible. You can pack as many as you want, but you have to carry them. I can squeeze all of my stuff into 4 bags. I packed most of my things last night because today I had to go sign for our automation/NVG/expendable supplies that we will need at Camp Funston. I took 3 other guys from my team with me and I was glad I did. We came back with 3 foot lockers full of goodies.
I’m really relieved that our team has gotten along so well. Pretty much from day one we have come together and gotten the job done. Usually you have one PITA that makes life miserable for everyone. We don’t have that and I’m hoping that helps when we get into the real training. Time will tell.
One other thing I noticed is how hard it is to keep track of your luggage and find it amongst everyone else’s. For the most part we all have the same kind of bags. There are a few exceptions, but green is a common denominator. I found a shoe repair place at the old PX that makes bag tags with your name on it. My friend and I thought it would be a cool idea to get some tags made, but with our family’s names on them so we can kind of take them with us. So I had 6 tags made so I can tell my bags from everyone else’s and I can give them to my kids when I get back.

New additions to team Deuce

2009-03-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today was more focused on briefings and we didn’t get any more toys. We spent the morning doing some important paperwork for the Army and then finished it up with some testing before lunch. At lunch we started devising our plan to transfer from Custer Hill to Camp Funston. We had to face the music that we were giving up our pretty nice dorm rooms (for Army standards) and moving to an open bay dorm. Each open bay has forty bunks in it. We are going to be cozy if we weren’t yet. The afternoon was spent doing more briefings at the chapel. It was some interactive training so it wasn’t too bad. I do remember that pews aren’t that comfortable when you are over six feet. We finished up our day with a little PT and that’s when our Lieutenant got this wild idea that he wanted to climb one of the ropes hanging off some poles. It had a rope ladder, some cable ladders, and about 3 ropes. From top to bottom it was probably about twenty five feet. Did I mention he was wearing shorts? He made it up fine, but came down a little too fast and gave himself rope burns on his ankles, and inside of his thighs. I’m sure a uniform and boots will feel great tomorrow. We also found out we are getting two new additions to our team. They are both Army guys. Ones a medic and the other is a CST student like us. The only difference is he has deployed doing this five times, so I’m hoping he can really help us and give us some insight as to what we are actually going to be doing. Hopefully we work well together. We will find out Saturday when he joins us. In the meantime I am trying to pack all of my Air Force/Army gear in some logical manor so I can find it when and if I need it. Where are you Jill!?!?! Hopefully I make her proud.

Count down to Camp Funston

2009-03-24T14:33:00.001-07:00

Today Started off just like the last couple of days. We were up, ready, and at breakfast by 0630. They sure do feed us good here. I have zero complaints about the chow hall here. It may not be the same at every Army post, but this one certainly takes care of us. We’ve also met a lot of people there. Today we ran into our senior class. They are about two weeks from graduation. They reconfirmed everything I was told from “Roadkill” so I’m glad Jill found your blog Ron.
After breakfast we made another trip to gear issue and came back with yet another duffle bag of items we need for training and for down range. Again, a lot of it stuff we already have. But the Army has way better gear than most of us have been issued at our home bases. They have the same idea, but the Army has definitely perfected their deployment gear. Tonight we are having a helmet/IBA clean-up party. We need to tie up any loose ends by Friday because we head out to Camp Funston for the rest of our training. Until then I’m heading out to eat and hit the new PX. I need some new headphones and my buddy washed his MP3 player so he needs a replacement.
A big “I miss you and love you” out to my family. Being away from you is extremely difficult, but you are always in my thoughts. 831 infinity

Cool Toys!!!

2009-03-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

What happens when you come to train at an Army “post” (just for you Kelly) and you’ve already been issued a crap load of stuff at your home base? You get more stuff. But really cool stuff. We spent half of the day getting another duffle bag of gear to take down range. The biggest piece issued was our IBA, or body armor. It’s kind of like a puzzle and has to be put together. This is not something you want to guess at. Luckily we have someone on our team that has deployed before and knew exactly how to put things together.
The rest of the day was spent getting our orientation briefs by the Air Force and the Army. There are three branches represented in our overall class, but our teams are not mixed. We keep getting bits and pieces of information as to what we are going to be doing. Hopefully we’ll know before we get in country.
Kansas is also known for tornados and we found out why today. We went to the PX after PT this afternoon and got stuck there for a while because a tornado touched down west of the base. It didn’t make it to us, but we now know what the sirens mean.
Well, I’m off to check laundry and get ready for tomorrow. I’ll post some pictures tomorrow.
P.S. Mt. Redoubt finally erupted in Alaska early this morning. I knew it would wait until I left. Keep those folks in your thoughts.

Team meeting day

2009-03-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

This is a shot of my room.

This is another shot of my room. Notice the Harley bedset...one of those things they failed to tell us we needed. Thank god for Wal-Mart.

We made it to Ft. Reilly about 2030 last night. We met our commander and got our room assignments for the first week here. We’re staying in dorm rooms on Custer Hill. I think everyone was ready to get settled in and get some sleep. I know I was after the Friday that never seemed to end. When we got our room keys we were told that we would be sharing a room with someone. I lucked out because I have yet to get a roommate. And my traveling partner is right across the hall. We’re doing brunch today. Today should be a light day with only a few briefings. I’m hoping to check out the post a little and stop by the BX, sorry the PX.
When we got here the staff split us up into two teams. Team one got all the brass. They have a full bird colonel, a light colonel, a couple captains, and a few lieutenants. The rest of the team is enlisted. My team is very young and my boss is a lieutenant. He seems like a really good guy so far. I’m his NCOIC since I am the ranking enlisted. I am also the oldest person on our team. The other lieutenant on our team doesn’t let me forget this. I kid him because he looks like he’s fifteen and he kids me about my titanium hip replacements.
This afternoon we took it upon ourselves to do a little PT. The lieutenant decided it would be good to see where everyone was at conditioning wise. So we took a leisurely three mile run around the golf course. Did I tell you it gets windy here??? Well, it gets windy here and that made it even more difficult for some. Having my Zune made it a lot more enjoyable. (Thanks darlin’) And guess who finished before the young lieutenant? He still bugs me about replacement hips.

The journey begins...

2009-03-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

It’s Friday and my adventure has started. The time finally came to say good-bye to my family at the Anchorage airport and I boarded the plane. I actually met someone at the airport who was going to the same training, so it was nice to have a traveling companion. The flight from Anchorage to Minneapolis, Minnesota was full to say the least and we took off at 9:30pm Alaska time. I had two children under the age of two in the seats behind me and the gentleman that sat in the aisle seat beside me was a meat and potatoes boy. I shared my seat with him. Four hours and some change later we landed in Minneapolis and my new friend and I trucked it to our connecting flight. When I checking in at the gate I was told my ticket was a stand by ticket and the flight was over booked. They were looking for volunteers to take a later flight and offering a $300 voucher. I’m already running on little to no sleep and I’m supposed to be checking in at Ft. Riley by 1800. The later flight doesn’t leave until 1800. By this time I’m hearing Jill’s voice telling me to take a deep breath. I figure I can use my “traveling on military orders” card if I have to. As luck would have it I didn’t have to AND I got bumped up to first class. I finally got to stretch out and take a nap. The only thing that stunk was the flight to Kansas City was only an hour long. After landing at Kansas City we ran into another SSgt that was here for the same training we were. We are growing in numbers. Our reporting instructions were adequate and we made our way to the A terminal via the red bus. It took us a while to find our contact, but when we did it was obvious the games have begun. We landed at Kansas at 0830 and found out the bus would not be here to get us until 1700. We were spending the day at the airport.

I have to send out a very special thanks to my family for the hours of preparation and for getting me this far. Without your help I would be lost. Jill, you are the best. I love you.