Pen Pals

So I have been trading letters with a little boy from Las Vegas. One of the guys out here got a box of letters from a school class and we all grabbed one and started writing back. Andrew and I have exchanged two letters. He thinks it is way cool. He’s gotten two letters from some far off soldier. I like writing him to help in some small way keep the heart of America in tune with the military. I know it’s not much, but I feel some heritage/link with soldiers from times long ago and writing back to the “states.”

My real point in bringing all this up is the change in technology has kind of ended letter writing from soldiers. Even at the most remote places here in Iraq you can get to email on some sort of regular basis. I am sure there are units that do not for security reasons, but most everybody has some connectivity back to the states and they can use email. I try to write the kids and the wife on paper, but I talk on the phone and email them regularly. Letters that take 2 weeks to deliver lose meaning. I can’t give current events because they are long gone. I’m not whining or complaining just commenting on how things are different now with technology. And then the Blog. Well that is a whole new dimension. I can talk with hundreds of people at once. No need to address a letter. I just write the blog. If you are interested you keep reading, if not you click somewhere else. I wonder if people are archiving these words like people used to store old letters from loved ones during times of war?

Training Day

It must be time for me to leave. I feel like I know enough to be dangerous. I usually try to help with the training of the new board members on FRI and as I sat thru today’s session I felt like I had decent answers for most of the questions asked (especially answers to questions asked of other people). It must mean I know too much and should be shipped out – soon. I tried hard not to share my opinion too often unless other actually looked for my input. I wanted to speak up all the time, but I’ve slowly learned it’s not always good for me jump in the middle of other people’s briefings.

I need to mention some buddies. Joseph and JR are two of the translators that we work with and hang out with all the time. They really are great people. I’ve mentioned some of them before. The pic below is of our trip home from R&R. JR is the one in civilian clothes. He had also been on R&R and we hooked up on the return trip into Camp B. I don’t have a good pic of Joseph. I’ll have to get one. We had a small gathering of and cookout for the MNFRC guys who are leaving soon. As always it was a good time to hang out together and break some bread. I’ll have to admit this one was quite a bit hotter than the last couple we have had. Joseph and JR helped with putting it all together and as I thanked them they asked for some WWW press...and just as the good Lord says – ask and you shall receive.
The pic is also a mixed bag of guys from the courthouse board members and staff that help us run things day to day.

Camp B - Resort

Here’s something I came across that I thought was funny. Most of these are true, but the internet in your room is a little bit of a stretch.

Resort - Oasis in the Desert

- We offer First Class transportation to and from the resort on our top of the line Black Hawk helicopters
- First class shuttle buses around the resort
- Most Rooms are located on the boardwalk with close access to all the wonderful ammenities
- Beachfront resort with plenty of sand for all the kids at heart
- Wildlife and bird watching just outside your door
- Internet access in your room
- Opportunities to view daily air shows from your doorstep
- We offer the best dining facility in the area and several other eating establishments which offer the finest American-style cuisine
- Free unlimited supply of Baskin Robin's ice cream
- Access to our large fitness facility available 24 hours daily
- Many classes to include dancing and aerobics
- Fun for all in our weekly karaoke or card game competitions
- Organized athletics for those who enjoy the spirit of competition and wish to build long standing friendships
- And best of all, we pay YOU to stay with us!
- Rates depend on yor duration and standing of membership
- This is an all-inclusive resort
- To register today, please contact yor career manager and ask for the Camp B vacation package with lengths of stay ranging from six to fifteen months!

Memorial Day Thoughts

On this solemn day – I’d like to reflect on the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who have bravely given their lives in defense of the United States and all it stands for. From the early days with General Washington and his Army in 1776 to modern times and the Global War on Terror, it is a long and distinguished history. Today we fight side by side with the Iraqi people in a struggle for freedom. There are forces that would like a dark curtain to remain over the people here, keeping them from seeing the light and looking past the fear. I pray our efforts result in a peaceful Iraq – soon.

Stars and Stripes lists the number of US dead in Iraq at 4,080 (Thurs 28 May 08). Pray for the families of those fallen comrades.

God grant us wisdom and strength to continue to do what is right.

Chairs

When they did the initial standup of the courthouse area they bought some decent chairs. Enough in each courtroom for 3 board members, a translator, and some in the back for those that watch (like CNN). Since then (summer 07) we have really worn out the chairs. The chairs in the courtrooms now are all broken. Some have lopsided bases because the wheels broke off, some have lost arms, and many have just plain broken (seats separated from the base and guys come crashing down). I myself have fallen – right in the middle of a case – because the chair I was in finally gave away. Some might say this is because we eat too much in the DFAC. Actually I think we just bought cheap chairs and we are hard on them. Many of “full-grown” adults in and out of them with weapons slung on the hips and other stuff jammed into our cargo pockets. They are literally falling apart. We have some even cheaper chairs in the office area we work in. These metal folding ones collapse on a regular basis. They just aren’t built to withstand the punishment we put on them. You would not think it was hard to construct sturdy chairs…but apparently it is. Someone told me we put in an order for new chairs. I’ve watched the “new” chairs be used in other parts of the base. And they are worse. They are even cheaper metal/plastic type chairs that break as well. Too funny. Mighty US military and cheap worthless chairs. Such is life at Camp-B. Top-Dollars spent on some things and on others…not so much. As an acquisition guy I can’t help but see the “lowest bidder” versus “best value” issue here. Is it better to buy many cheap chairs or costly but durable chairs?

Home Crap Home

I’m back from R&R. It was just a few days, but it was fun. One of the best things was to just get away and be somewhere different for a while. There were a few extra amenities (a pool, some different kinds of restaurants, movie theater, a bigger gym, etc.). One of the best things was wearing civilian clothes. I didn’t think that would be much, but it did help to relax you and bring back some individuality that the military works hard to erase.

The travel completely stinks. There is just no way to sugar coat it. You hurry up and wait. Then wait some more. The one way trip took multiple days. The good news is I added another military aircraft to my list. The mighty Chinook (UH-47) was a new one for me. As with most military aircraft it seemed older than the hills and kept running by the hard work of the maintenance crews and a few taxpayer dollars in refurbishments. I passed through Buehring another time (the land of painted concrete barriers) – not much had changed there.

Since all I do is talk about food – you’ll find it interesting to note that I found the D-FAC at the R&R place to be one of the worst yet. The only really good thing was that they had fresh veggies and fruits and a good ice cream selection. Rocky-Road…YUM. Surprisingly the main food line there had less to offer than the standard fare here at Camp B.

Life back here appears to be the same old. It was nice to return to a familiar bed and pillow. It was nice to get back to the normal sounds in my pod as compared to a giant tent with a 100 other people in transit. Now it’s back to work to grind out the last few months.

Please hurry and grab your gear…so we can wait

As I sit on the plane (and enter hour #3) waiting for permission to taxi and takeoff…I decided it was time to type. The travel in and around the theater is difficult. You have to move on timelines that are very exaggerated. You show up early and sit forever. Transportation is slower than expected and usually uncomfortable. You move two steps forward then a step back. It’s what makes the joke of “military efficiency” laughable. I also realize I am on R&R. I’m the lowest of low priority. Things should happen quickly for those who need it and I’m in no hurry to get back. As soon as I return it’s back to the court.

As we boarded the C-17 for our next leg back to our final destination I felt back at home. AF people scurrying about. Familiar ranks and roles of aircrew and loadmasters. I was happy to see them and to be around them. It made me wonder what it is like to actually deploy and perform your mission. To train and prepare to do exactly the job you will do in “war.” Many airmen these days are deploying and filling the roles of other servicemen. Take me for example. What do I know of a battlefield threat? Yet I get to judge them everyday. I’m an acquisition guy. I take requirements, budgets, and specifications and mold them into a product for someone else to use in battle. But that is where I am, I’m happy to be a part of the bigger fight, and I try to make the best of it. But I am sure there is something much more satisfying in doing the job you are trained to do.

Hours and hours later we are still on the plane – engines running – waiting on something before we depart. I know the aircrew is as frustrated as we are. No one likes to be sitting around waiting…unless you are returning from R&R.