Tuesday, December 8, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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.
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.
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