More to come in a day...

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and wishes during Christmas and my birthday. Christmas was good with lots of sleep and visits to santa and the elves. There were many activities around our little Bedrock, as the Air Force community here is known as. Carnival, poker games, volleyball and horseshoe tournaments and such.
Tomorrow I am headed off base and into the community nearby. Should be interesting. Also get to go near the Zigurrat, a 6000 year old structure in remarkable condition. This area is where Abraham lived and the concept of monotheasism was concieved. Truly the birthplace of western civilization. Wow...what happened?
I will post pictures and more when I return tomorrow night!

Chemical Ali's infamous HQ. Don't drink the water!

Nice day today

Had a very nice day. Cleaned my CHU. Took down the bunkbed. Put my own sheets on. No more of the ragged GI linen. Got rid of most of the dust, sand and mud that accumulates in here. Weather was about 70 degrees (I'm guessing) and sunny. I think I'll plan a little cookout for the guys for next Sunday. Buy a little weber, some burgers and brats and get all the rest from the chow hall. You have to have something to look forward to!

This week was very busy. We were visited by Gen McNabb, commander of US Transportation Command. Then by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen. Followed those guys around all day taking pictures and writing stories about the visit. Had to remeber how to lay out a news magazine, but finally got that completed. The Bedrock Bulletin is emailed to everyone on base every Friday. We embed video reports produced by Miguel into the Bulletin, so it is a nice product. I do this every week now. Should keep me busy.

Miguel, the LT and I took a little drive yesterday to the local Iraqi market on base. Bought a Battlestar Galactica movie I hadn't seen (I'm a sci fi geek) and the complete seven seasons of the Soprano's for $26. Little different from the states. Took a swing by Chemical Ali's labroratory and the golden archesd that used to be the main entrance when the Iraqi's owned this base. Pictures to follow.

Spoke to Jodi via the magic jack (great investment!). So nice to talk like you're in the next room. In the old days when I was assigned overseas ('78-'80, '81-'83), it cost a fortune to call home. Or I used the MARS system of volunteers staffing a shortwave radio system. Everytime you stopped talking, you had to say "Over." Then every volunteer along the way switched a lever that allowed the other person to speak. It was a good system, as long as you said the magic word. Today, everything is over the internet. I'll be skyping later.

So all is well here in Iraq. Hope everyone is getting ready for the holidays and not getting too stressed. I'll have lots of pictures next week of the christmas festivities. Oh yeah, I saw Anna Konikova as she came off the C-130 on a USO visit. I was there to photograph Adm Mullen and there she was, right next to me. So I took a paparazzi shot. I'll post a few pictures in a bit...

The smoke shack.

And, I have a window! Although it's far too bright to open the shade.

The CHU's are inside these hardened areas.

CHU's are four rooms to a trailer. Trailers are within a hardened living area.

More CHU

Why does every other blog

look better than mine? Guess I just don't have the time, energy, or interest in making this thing an award winner. However, it's fun just to do it. So we have a very busy week, especially as the guys are leaving and Miguel and I are taking over, along with the lieutenant.  I'll describe the week's events this coming Sunday (my day off) as best I can, considering where I'm at and what we're doing. I think you'll find the week very interesting!

Hope everyone is having a fine time getting ready for Christmas.  Remember that the holiday is meant to be with the ones you love and that love you, whether together or just in spirit and memory.

And now for a few pictures.

My CHU.

Flag football time

Going to the Sunday football game. Be sure to check out my older posts on the blog; lots of pictures.

Unique sight: Iraqi Air Force

Haha! Must have forgotten to salute.

Da crew. SrA Tony on the right is headed back to Ramstein Air Base.

The PA boss. Lt. Leverett

Miguel at work.

On  the flightline waiting for some Iraqi VIP

First look in Iraq

Fellow PA Warrior Miguel enroute in the C-130.

Couple wild and crazy guys! MSgt Lally and SMSgt Strasser.

The passenger waiting terminal at Al Udeid.

We left our mark in Qatar.

My group waiting for the C-130 to Iraq. Everyone is in high spirits and ready to get going.

In Iraq

Again, it has been a whirlwind. We left Qatar on a C-130 and arrived at Ali Base, Iraq at 1 am Thursday. Checking in was relatively painless and quick. My compatriot, Miguel, and I were met by Lt. Korey and the three enlisted Public Affairs guys that we're replacing. After the paperwork shuffle, they took us to our CHU's (containerized housing units) for a few hours sleep.

All things considered, the CHU's are pretty nice. It's a long trailer divided into four individual rooms. Fridge, bed, desk, wall locker. Pictures to follow.

Thursday I spent at the 407th Aero Expeditionary Group headquarters meeting people and getting the lowdown on the mission. I have an office and all the tools to get the information job done. Friday and Saturday were spent gleaning as much info from the outgoing guys as possible. I think they'll be here until next Tuesday, when they catch their freedom flight back home. All three are young guys in their mid 20's.

We work six days per week, 7 am to 7 pm. However, that's not too bad when you consider what else there is to do. I will fill you in on the recreational activities as time goes on. It's Sunday, December 13th at 10 am at the moment and Sunday at 1 am back home. So I can't call anyone as they're all in bed.

Yesterday I ran a 5K Fun Run. Wasn't sure I could do it as I haven't run 3.2 miles in probably 30 years. So you suck it up and see what happens. Hey, there were still people behind me when I finished so I'm happy!

Anyway, time to post some pictures. You can always post comments, I like to hear from my 'peeps'!

I can almost feel the breeze in my hair. Why do I look like a serial killer?

The Coffee Shop at Camp Cupcake

Blistering

Hot out here today. Pushing 80 degrees, bright and sunny. We leave a little later this afternoon and head to parts unknown. Hopefully, we'll get to where we're going quickly. But...our flight could be cancelled on the runway or we could be diverted to another base. Either way, I live to serve.

A friend, Matt, observed how odd it is to be sweating profusely during the day and have to wear another layer in the evening due to the chill. I would think that Arizona is similar, but I have no first-hand experience. As you can tell, I'm typing to kill time, sitting in the coffee shop where the single air conditioner in the wall is working overtime to keep the heat out. Not sure that it is winning.

Just got a haircut. Shortest it's been since my Dad and boot camp cut it this close to the skull. But it is just too hot to have anything on top. Saw a few civilian contractors with poneytails. You know the type; forty something men with the widow's peak and long hair pulled into a pony-tail via a comb-back barely covering an almost bald pate. I wanted to ask them, "Uh, what's the point? The statement you're trying to make?" When I retire from the Reserve upon my return next summer, I'm starting a pony tail. Or maybe pig tails. Now that's a statement.

Made it to the AOR!

Whew! Been a wild couple of days. Started in Minneapolis, where I spent a week before I deployed with my family, wife Jodi and my daughters Emily and Megan. It was wonderful to be with them but sad at the same time. Sometimes it's just better to pack your bags and go than to prolong the departure. But I'm glad we spent that time together as a family. Had a great send-off dinner at Jodi's sister's house with Lisa and Ted, Erin and her kids, minus Dean who was playing drums at a gig somewhere. Too bad, whould have liked to have seen him.  Jodi's mom Loretta was there too. Always a good time.

So the next morning, Dec 5th, we said our goodbye's and I outprocessed from the 934th Airlift Wing. Caught a flight to Norfolk, VA and on to Norfolk Naval Air Station. Spent the night in lodging and on to the military passenger terminal the next morning. About 130 of us left on a chartered 757 for Germany at 10 AM. After 7.5 hours, we landed outside Berlin at midnight. Weather was about 40 degrees. Spent the next six hours haning out at the terminal and unable to sleep. Left Germany at six AM and caught the sunrise somewhere over Egypt. Then on to Al Eudid, Quatar. So we are on an island in the Persian Gulf until tomorrow.

This base is better known as Camp Cupcake, as it has a large pool, Dairy Queen, BK, Pizza Hut, three beers a day, and a coffe shop (thank heavens!). Looks like Arizona, brown everywhere, as is the sand. Yesterday was filled with in-processing (wait in line), being issued our IBA (Individual Body Armor), chemical suit, helmet and all kinds of gear to lug around. OK, my bud Miguel is here and we're headed to the chow hall for lunch. More info and pictures this afternoon!

Combat Skills Training at Ft. Dix. NJ

Back in Illinois

Combat Airman Skills Training was very interesting. As the instructors stated many times, "This is only familiarization! Do not think that you are an expert. When they call for volunteers that have training, we want you to look like a deer in the headlights!" I do that naturally.

About 1/3 of the class were Public Affairs types like me, many contracting folks, JAG's (lawyers) and a mixture of many career fields. Also many Guard and Reserve members (also like me). I met two other PA warriors I'll be stationed with at Ali. Excellent people. Many of the enlisted and officers were going back for their third and fourth tour. They're the real heroes.

We covered playing soldier in the woods, how to sweep through the forest in a 'V' formation, staggered lines, cover an intersection, repel ambushes and more. Urban warfare consisted of clearing building of bad guys, how to recognize the good guys from the rest. Not easy. When we played with 'simunitions,' (paint tipped rounds), I took hits to the helmet, back, leg and throat. Probably more, but I was too busy trying to get into a building to notice them. They are designed to feel like a real round hit you. Had a couple welts, but nothing serious. Actually, this was my favorite day!

Received lots of instruction on the humvee, rollovers, improvised explosive devices (IED) and surviving same. the entire point of every training session was to familiarize us with the fog of war and not be an easy target! Many of the folks were going to to more intensive training after this for three weeks to three months. Two weeks was enough for me!

We were also instructed not to take pictures/video of most of the training, although many people did. I don't understand that. Why would you want to post video of IED training and demonstrate to our enemies how we train against them? You're putting lives at risk.

I have a couple pictures I'll post of the woods and standing around eating MRE's (meals ready to eat). Most were actually good, assuming you had time to heat them up! Otherwise, I survived on the crackers and PB&J.

I am headed to Minneapolis Dec 30th, then on to Ali Air Base December 6th. Still trying to get everything together and all the last-minute items cleared up. My Miss Wonderful of 23 years, Jodi, has a daily list of 'honey-do's' for me. I don't mind any of them as she'll be keeping the fort down while I'm in the desert.

So why am I doing this again? Because I can. I retired from the Air Force reserve in '01, before 9/11. I called and said that I have to get back in, we were going to war. But the Reserve had tons of new people clamoring to get in, so I wasn't needed. Then in '05, I received a call saying I was needed and would I do a few more years. So here I am, putting a capstone on my military career by doing something substantial, I hope. I'll retire again after this and go to work for FEMA as a Public Information Officer. And the world keeps turning.

Getting ready for Combat Skills Training

I leave on Monday, Nov 2nd for Ft. Dix, NJ to become a trained warrior. Although they told us we were trained warriors when we graduated from DINFOS (Defense Information School), I guess they were just kidding. We were taught to shoot cameras (not bullets) and that the pen was mightier than the sword. Now I get to find out what the sword can do!

Here's a quick run-down of the 10-day schedule as the student liaison described it to me.

Class consists of 250 people. In-process and assigned dorm. We're split into flights that will be our family for the duration. We're assigned duties; latrine queen, water boy etc., just like boot camp. Issued weapons that we live with. In classes and the field for: map orientation, urban warfare, clearing houses, shooting popup people, recognizing improvised explosive devises, bombs etc, battle self aid-buddy care on steroids, navigating through the woods with a compass, map and a dagger, live weapons firing, HUMVEE training/driving, convoy training, protection en route, recovering from humvee IED explosion, HUMVEE simulator which blows up with you strapped inside and rolls over several times. And lots more. Sounds like a giant amusement park. We graduate on Friday at 1530 and spend the evening through Sat morning cleaning weapons, dorms, latrines and making everything ready for the next class.

The folks at the Iraqi Public Affairs shop I'm going to said it is a bit intense for what to expect there (I hope so!) but that it is a lot of fun. So all those years of training between five and ten years old playing war in the neighborhood will finally pay off! Don't think I'll be able to post here while I'm fighting to get out of Newark, but hopefully I'll have a couple pictures and stories to tell when I get back.

Just one more thing before I go

This blog is one more thing to get busy with. Right now I am trying to finish all the required shots (anthrax, thyphoid, tetnus, hep B blah blah) and get in some 'just in time' training, including Combat Skills (10 days in the swamps of new Jersey playing war), before I ship out to Iraq. I'll spill the beans about me later, after I set this blog up. Suffice it to say that I'm 54, an Air Force Reserve Master Sergeant for Life, husband, dad, grandpa, public affairs guy and I'm going to end my Reserve career with a bang! Just figuritively speaking.

I retired from the reserve in '01, just before 9/11. Reenlisted in '06, at their request. So here I am, finally getting to do something that at least makes a personal statement. Should be an interesting ride!