Navy Chop in Army Fatigues

Me and my crew

2008-07-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am still alive, just have been very busy and un-motivated to blog. Blogging was fun/new at the beginning now it is like work, and I have enough of that. Things are really getting bad in AFG, we have lost two people out of our Task Force in last month. One was a friend and in my job I had to go pack up all his earthly belonging and ship them back to his family, talk about a hard thing (wife and two kids) tell me that doesn't hit close to home. Pray for me this gig is wearing on me, only have around 35 days until my relief is here, thank God. Also want everyone to pray for a friend of mine Brian Simonson, we shared an office in Guam, and were at Naval Postgraduate School together, he gets to AFG in the next couple of weeks and will not have the luxury of being at a very secure base like the one I am at. We don't know where he will be stationed but I do know what he will be doing and it won't be at as big a base. Just pray for him and his family he is coming at a very violent time, the last 3 months have been more violent in AFG than Iraq. Thanks once again for all your prayers and support.

23rd Psalm from Afghanistan

2008-06-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

The LORD is my squad leader,

I don't have to do more with less.

He makes me lie down in clean B-Huts,

he leads me beside the 24-hour DFAC.

He restores my 14 hour work day;

He guides me to an empty row of seats on the rotator

for his name's sake.

Even though I patrol down a highway littered with IED's,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

Your NVG's and your GPS, they comfort me.

You prepare a home cooked meal for me in front of the terrorists.

You give me a long hot shower.

There's no rationing at Friday night surf and turf.

Surely liberty and extra pass days will follow me all the days of my life.

And my country will never need me to deploy again.

This was on the back of the bulletin at church on Sunday, thought someone might enjoy

I have been gone

2008-05-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

I know all of you have been waiting for my latest post, I am sorry it took me so long. I have had a few factors to overcome to allow me to post: 1. I have been out on business trips twice since my last post, and 2. My XO opened his big mouth and ruined the gig a few of us had on getting free Internet. #1 was a blast I went and saw places that I will never forget, and that is about all I can say. Of note it was 114 degrees at one place I visited, when you walked outside it was like Mike Tyson hit you in the face, man that is hot. #2 well I was able to work that out obviously or I would not be posting as we speak.

Sorry I don't have any pictures from my trips wish I did but never had my camera on me when the Kodak moment arose. Last Sunday was half way night officially, this is a Navy deployment thing were you celebrate being half way done with your deployment. So all of my peeps and I went out and celebrated with pizza and hair cuts, not that is taking it to the extreme. So now it is all down hill, half way through with deployment and only approximately three months left. I hope they move as fast as these first three. Well I was supposed to go on R and R this coming week but I moved it back to the end of June, mostly because I here the weather in Qatar is much more hospitable then than in May. For those of you wondering, the word on the street is about 120 degrees every day sounds fun, I will be sure and take pictures to document the sweaty fat man tours.

OUT

Highlights from my recent business trip

2008-05-18T09:36:00.001-07:00

View from the back of the Chinook, on my way to my destination

Now I know a lot of you are wondering why I am traveling, well here is the long and short. I had to go out and do a site survey at this remote FOB where I will be building a set of barracks for the team we support there. So when I got there on Friday I did all the work and met with all the people that I needed to, so Saturday I was able to hang out. So what did I do, well I kicked it with the Minnesota Viking Cheerleaders for the morning. E-Dog get your chin of the ground, don't be to jealous, but see what happens on an IA, maybe you should volunteer.

Proof

So after I hung out with the Viking's girls, I got the unique opportunity to go on a mission with our team at my vacation destiny. So as all you faithful readers know I work for TF Paladin, who is the Counter IED TF for AFG. So what that means when we get notified there are IEDs that are found, or worst case one of our vehicles hits it we go exploit the device. That is where the CSI/Unit comes in to play. So Saturday afternoon I got to go out on a mission, an IED had been found and we went up and blew it up and exploited the sight. Was quite a day, temperature was about 107, got to ride in an up-armored Hummer for about 3 hours each way, actually felt like a real solider. So here are some pictures of my field trip to the zoo mom:

Village we stopped at, though I wasn't alive in biblical days it was like a time warp back

Kids playing 100M from the IED location, and you think our streets are bad

IED hole after we blew it up, man that was cool

So after we got back to the base it was bed time. So I got up this morning to some sergeant beating on my door, let me back up, my helicopter ride home the next day had been cancelled, so I was going to be stuck in outer AFG for two more days. That was going to be more fun than I should be allowed, so the sergeant was knocking on my door to tell me that there was another flight that just got turned on, but I would have to go up to the LZ (landing zone) and work a drug deal to get on it. So I did, I got on a Blackhawk and got the scenic tour of Northeast AFG, was pretty stincken cool. So the last place we stopped in Jalalabad we picked up some passengers. This poor young girl, and I do mean young, she could not have been in the military much longer than breakfast, was sitting across form me. So we take off and get down in between the mountains and we are banking left and banking right as we follow the main highway through, and what does miss breakfast do. You guessed it she loses her breakfast, luckily she pulled out her cover, hat for you non military people and chuncked the groceries in her cover. You can see it in her hand, I know you are thinking why did you take a picture, and the only reason or answer I have is for this blog, I thought you all would get a kick out of it. Well now I am back in BAF and back to the grind stone, but keep yourself dialed in because I do have another business trip coming up, and I hope it is just as much fun.

I MADE IT

2008-05-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

To all you who have been wondering if I made my business trip, I did. I took a helicoptor on Friday to my destination. It was the ride of my life, I was on the last seat in the back of a Chinook, with a tail gunner hanging out the back cargo door right next to me. Got some good pictures will post when I get home to BAF. The pilot flew that chopper through the mountains like a Porshe on a winding road, one dude got sick, it was like a good roller coaster ride, with guns. Though there was one time when we lost a lot of altitude very quickly and it was even a little nerve racking for me. I have had a good time, got to do some really cool stuff that I will go into more detail when I get, because I cannot do it justice without pictures.

Just checking in

2008-05-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

So my first trip of the week got cancelled, and we will see what tomorrow brings for my next. Things other than that are pretty slow right now.

So I found out that AFG has a huge issue with homosexuality, don't ask me why, I just got wind of it. So a good buddy of mine here had to go out to this remote FOB (forward operating base) which was actually very close to where Pat Tillman was killed, but that is a whole other story. So this FOB has two sides the ISAF/NATO side and the ANA (AFG National Army) which is half the reason the US is here to train up the ANA. So my buddy is hanging out on Wednesday night, and someone says make sure you stay in your room tomorrow it is man-love Thursday. So my buddy is like what are you talking about, and he goes on to find out that the ANA hooks up with each other on Thursday. Now I know you are thinking why Thursday, well I don't know, because Tuesday sounds like a much better day to me, yeah right. So all that to say next time you are in AFG watch your six on man-love Thursday. For those of you who are now thinking what is my six, that would be the six o'clock position which would be your rear.

When I started this blogging gig I thought I would have so much to say, but I don't. Maybe it is because everyday here is Groundhog day. You know it is bad when you track the days by what is being served at the DFAC. Like tomorrow is surf and turf, now that is something to get excited about. Tonight was BBQ, I always look forward to that, but the highlight of my week is the drive home from BBQ when I get to lay out the window and yell at all the Air Force people, now that is exciting. I was thinking tomorrow as I ride the helicopter to my business destination maybe I could fire off a few rounds just to make sure my weapon still works, that would be exciting.

Well that is enough rambling for this post if you want to even call it a post.

Good Book

2008-05-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

I just finished a book yesterday I would like to recommend to all, "The Kite Runner". The book has to do with AFG living and the story of one young boy growing into a man. Now if you are lazy like me, I hear it came out on movie late in 2007. Easy read and well worth your time. Keep me in your prayers I will be going outside the wire next week twice.

The funniest thing

2008-05-05T03:34:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, Sunday, I saw something that was very interesting. I was coming out of one of the DFAC's on base (that is what they call chow halls, places you eat, galleys) in the Army. Out the very back exit there is a small chapel and on Sunday nights there is a praise band that practices there. Also key to the story is to know that most of the people who work in the DFAC are LN's (local nationals) so most practice Islam. So it is right before dusk when I step out of the DFAC and to my right is a trumpet player just warming up for practice, but he is playing "Onward Christian Soldiers" and to my left I have the Islam DFAC workers on there prayer rugs praying to Allah. I found it quite amusing and ironic.

Amy's Rug

2008-05-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

My children cannot attend college now because of the above

April 30, 2008:

This is the rug I got Amy, not for her B-Day, not for Mother's Day, not for Anniversary, but just because I love her. It took me a whole bunch of leg work and pictures to get the right one, because heaven forbid I get the wrong one. Hopefully our children will appreciate and not tear up our new rug since their college nest egg paid for it. No just kidding, it was a little side project I took up here to help the time pass, rug weaving. It is so liberating, no just kidding again, hope you all like and hope Amy likes once she gets it in the mail all ten by thirteen feet of it.

To be a PALADIN

2008-05-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Paladin mask

April 29, 2008:

As many of you know I am attached to Joint Task Force Paladin in AFG. On my way over here I often wondered what is a Paladin, and I though all of you would also like to know:

The Meaning of Being a
Paladin

Protect the innocent, uphold the law. These are the basic tenets and the core definition of a paladin as they follow a straight and all-too-narrow path in the course of their adventuring lives. Defending truth and justice against the endless attempts of evil to subvert or destroy them, the paladin stands at the gate, holding the bridge… and none shall pass.

From the demon hunter who traverses the land protecting his people from the incursions of evil outsiders to the revolutionary who fights the worldly evil rooting in the heart of a tyrannical government, paladins are driven by a desire to set things right, and make sure that the things that are right stay that way. A squire looks upon the day on which he will receive his spurs, a knight errant trusts in his fellows' hospitality to support his patrols of the land, penitents are willing to lay down their lives to atone for a darkened past as much as crusaders do for their faith in a cause. Paladins take their first step in a road full of hardships for a variety of reasons, and they try their hardest to remain on that road, taking no detours and no shortcuts, for doing so would betray the ideals they took arms to defend in the first place.

It is very easy to heed the call of evil and stray from the true path of good; a broken promise, an obscured truth, a misdeed ignored… paladins will have none of these. They are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if that is what it takes to make the world safe for others, and hold true to their honor and their mission, regardless of personal consequences.

Clerics spread the words of the gods; paladins act upon them. Fighters fight for money, glory or fame; paladins fight for the greater good. Wizards and sorcerers seek knowledge and power; paladins seek truth and peace. Rogues live for themselves; paladins die for others. While others become heroes out of necessity or circumstance, paladins do so because it is in their job description.

This brief description says a lot and reminds me of a bunch of soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen I work and live with everyday.

2008-05-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a catch up post of a bunch of things I have been wanting to put up, but was waiting to see if my Internet dream came true:

April 22, 208

Today was an extremely interesting day, "the company" (that's code for where I work) hosted a conference between a couple of countries that border AFG that I cannot mention. So in true Supply Corps form I ran the whole thing, made sure it went of flawlessly all from the wings making all the people in "the company" look like ROCK STARS. Everyone that knew exactly what I had pulled off today, was like how did you make all this happen, my response, "Son this ain't my first RODEO". So after all the hoopla was over and we got our smelly visitors on the plane home, began my work day, all of which I can't tell you about, or I would have to kill you, but you get the picture. The one bright spot in the day was after returning to my office around 1500 I had an email in my inbox that notified me the Toby Keith would be playing a USO concert tonight at 1900, YEESSSSS SSSSSSIIIIR, you know I am down for some Toby "Goat Boy" Keith. So as I sit here now I have just returned from rocking out with Toby. I have to say he is a true AMERICAN, people might not like what he says or sings about all the time, but one thing is true he speaks what he means and pulls no punches, and I like that. In the middle of the show, with about 5,000 people around me in this tent thing we call the clam shell, there was a silent point because "Goat Boy" was up there running around making fun of the Taliban and what does this dumb SOONER do, yeah you that know me, I yelled out "BOOMER" and what does Toby do, you guessed it like any true SOONER fan, he say, "I hear you good buddy, "SOONER", so yes me and Toby are good buddies now. I am thinking he might ask me to star in his next video, since we are good buddies now, plus I can ride a horse and have been known to get bucked of a few, so I am natural for his next video. Back to reality "CHET" just walked by, let me get below the desk, maybe he won't see me, please LORD,AHHHHHH.

REAL LIFE PIC OF "CHET"

OHHHH, that was close, Chet got me, it was kind of awkward crawling out from under my desk (I am just kidding about the desk) but Chet did get me, he came by to tell me he appreciated all I did today, that he heard I was the one who made it all happen. That was nice of him, even better is he left without giving me any tasks due tonight because it is 2130 and I would like to sleep tonight. So back to me and Toby, it was quite a great show, he sang all the songs you never hear on the radio, and it was quite stirring to here 5,000 people shout, "WE'LL STICK A BOOT IN YOUR ASS" together during his song, "Brought to you by the Red, White, and Blue". T-Dog (you know we are buddies) ended the concert with a song I had never heard but has quickly became my favorite song, I thing the title is "American Solider" if you have not heard it, check it out, has a compelling message and really struck a cord with the audience. Well I am spent, keep your powder dry, and just remember this, "I am not as good as I once was" ROGER WILCO.

Me and T-Dog in jam session discussing next video deal!

Toby slinging some lead down range!!!

I am still alive

2008-04-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while since I posted and you are all on the edge of your seats waiting for my new post, but not tonight. I just got internet in my room today and was able to video chat with Amy and Turner. Carter was in the rack, but it was great. So hopefully now I can take care of my own blog if I can figure out how to do all the things Amy did for me, to make it look so pretty. This is all you are getting tonight, but I promise more soon.

The Faces of Those You Touch

2008-04-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent pictures from our humanitarian effort here in AFG. The signs the kids are holding, in case you can't see them, say, "Thanks, Mr. Tecmire". I've become really attached to the people here, and the items that you send make such a difference in their lives. Thank you, and keep it coming!

Some Good News!

2008-04-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

Good news! I found out yesterday that Chet will be leaving in late July. Granted, I will not be leaving much longer after that, but hey it is good news. Hopefully my last 6 weeks will be easier, then again, who knows what the new Colonel will be like.

So lets talk about Bagram Airfield, my current luxurious vacation spot. This base was originally a Russian airbase that they used in the 70's and 80's to attempt to take over Afghanistan. That is a history lesson all in itself, so if you are not aware of the history go to Wikipedia. Anyway, the pesky Afghans would routinely sneak into Bagram during their war with mother Russia
and blow things up, so the Soviets got the grand idea to place mines around the airfield. I am not talking about a couple hundred or thousand, I am talking about millions.

They are everywhere! Even today, about two or three times a day you will hear them go off as they attempt to clear the mines out. That is a comforting thought.

My office is about 20 meters from the "wire", which is the fence that keeps good people in and bad people out. At night you have to duck and bob around the windows so you don't take a sniper shot from outside the "wire". Okay, so I am just kidding but it sounded good didn't it. Honest engine, sometimes mines go off right out my window and it shakes my whole building. That's a pretty cool ride. As you drive around base, a grand total of 8 miles, you will look out of the "wire" and see all these stones pile up everywhere. These are used to mark mines. There are even places on the base where they are still clearing mines.

The other day we (my boys Bax, Woody, and Yang a ding dang - Those are their call signs, get your mind out of the gutter) were coming back from chow. There used to be a BBQ joint on the far end of base that you have to drive to, so we decided to

get crazy and drive all the way around base back to work. We did it mainly to heckle Air Force and Army people as they walk. In the Army when someone salutes you they say some dumb saying like "Air Assault", "Airborne", "All the Way" etc. Of course I usually have some smart comeback like "Sea Assault" or "Ready for Sea". So anyway, we like to drive around at night and heckle Air Force and Army people out the window, which usually entails me screaming out the window GET ER DONE BLUE at the Air Force, and BIG GREEN MACHINE to the Army. Don't ask me why we do it, it is fun, and you have to have some fun here. So anyway, back to the original story: We were going the long way around base and the road was blocked off for de-mining, yet another comforting feeling. So we took some goat trail and made it back, but all that to tell you about mines here
on BAF.

Also we have these relaxing rocket shelters that we have to go into when rockets are fired on the base. I haven't had to get in one yet, but they say once the snow melts we will be busy. I will keep you informed.

So I was at another Job Johnny today and have another quote for each of you to help make your day. Here's how it goes:

There is no theory of evolution: Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

Home Sweet Home

2008-04-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

This the building where I live.

My wife told me I'm too excited about my guns...

My living conditions...well, compared to Kuwait, they are great. As you can see from the pictures my hooch (Army for room) is nice, or at least I think it is, and that is all that matters. It is a little small, but I am spoiled after living in the O3 penthouse on the Fighting Frank Cable (thanks E-Dog). The bad thing is I only spend sleeping hours in my hooch, (2300) 11PM - (0700) 7AM, because I live next to the task master, refer to previous post.

And that brings me to my next living issue/dilemma. We have a really nice latrine (head for Navy bubbas), but there is nothing like shaving in the morning or taking a leak and getting tasked. So, this fat boy does not use the nice facilities, I trek across campus (that sounds so military doesn't it) to the facilities in a conex box next to my office. First you are probably thinking, "What is a conex box?" Well it is a metal box, much like the ones you would see on big rigs or railroad cars. So now back to the more important question: In how many ways is it wrong to talk about work in the morning while anyone is attempting the three S's (shit, shower, and shave). I mean, that could be the 11th commandment: Thou shalt not task in the morning while thy brother is attempting the three S's (ass is in the bible why not shit).

(here's a pic of the showers/sinks)

So I avoid my hooch like the plague. One day, in band camp... No seriously, I was going up to my hooch to get my dirty clothes to turn in to KBR, yeah we have people who do our laundry. In a sick way I like to think of them as my servants, don't ask me why. So there I am with dirty clothes bag in hand, and no I had not slept on it the night before, note the nice pillows in the picture, and out pops "Chet/The Task Master". In the Navy, in my job we are called lots of things, but typically Suppo or Chop (slang for Supply Officer), but here I am called the four (4). That is because I am the J4 (my job position). Sometimes when they are really feeling sexy they call me Paladin 4. Enough on that, so there I am with my dirty clothes
(how many times can I say that) and I hear:

"4", where is my laundry (the people that work for me get the laundry to the KBR servants) and why does the latrine stink?

In the back of my head I am saying, "Well if your laundry was up your butt eating a ham sandwich, you would know where it was, and what a novel concept that it is a latrine... I wonder why it stinks, someone probably just ran the mud saw through it.

But no, I say, "Roger that sir, I will look into it."

I am such a chump! So now you see why I avoid my hooch at all cost. Not to mention seeing Chet in a towel is about enough to squelch my appetite for a week. That would be a good diet plan. Maybe I should work on a marketing scheme while I am here.

The sad thing is when I go to my hooch at night I am like a Marine sniper slipping in for the kill shot. I trace the outlines of the buildings and stay in the shadows so I am one with the night. When I get to the stairs I am like a little kid sneaking down to catch Santa. Once I get to the door I open it so slowly so that the squeak doesn't alarm to my presence, and then I run as fast as I can to my hooch, lock the door and listen for incoming foot steps. I haven't been caught yet, but it won't be long until Chet catches me like a deer in a spot light. Same thing in the mornings, out the door at a sprint, down the stairs and off to the races until I am out of a binoc shot (binoculars for you non military types).

(My office...Note the conex box)

My office is not plush but it is nice, probably bigger than anyone's. Most importantly, I am across campus (approximately 300 yards) from Chet's office. But don't worry. Email is quicker than light, and in 2 seconds flat he can have the old PSM (please see me) in your inbox. You just sit there and try to get the nerve up to open it, and just pray that it doesn't require going to the principle's office. I walked in the other day with a request for him to sign to get new office chairs for our conference room, and by the time I left he wanted all office chairs in the country of Afghanistan plotted,
and to him by COB (close of business). No, that's a misprint, it was actually all of the Middle East. All that to say I stay in my office a lot, just to stay off the radar, hopefully.

Entertainment, well we eat, we sleep, work out, and when I really want to get wild I go down to the beauty shop and get a hair cut by some Asian lady who speaks Russian. I don't know, but for $11 you get a great haircut, shampoo/wash, about a 10 minute head and shoulder massage, all with no side talk - the best part. So for $11 I can waste one hour, best deal going here on BAF. On Sundays we go to church at 1430 (2:30 PM) so that is about a hour and a half of time away also. Nothing like going to church with a 9mm on your side and a M16 on your back. I would like to
try that at home and see the response I get. Well that is enough, enough I say, but before I go, I want to leave you with a jewel of knowledge I gleaned off the inside of a porta potty today:

"Tornadoes don't exist, Chuck Norris just gets mad at trailer parks."

Being in the Army

2008-04-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

How does it feel to be "in" the Army? That is a good question, and one that still puzzles me. My first meeting with the Colonel I work for (I will add
more about him later) was interesting. He began by asking me if I had completed all of these different schools, all of which had Army names. I then asked him if he was talking about Joint Professional Military Education (JPME). He said "yes", and was very surprised I had it. Then he went on to state that the Navy is missing out on a lot of high ranking jobs because they don't want to play joint. In the back of my head I just thought, hmmmm... the new Chairman of the Joint Staff, Admiral Mullen is Navy. United States Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Fallon (at the time), Navy. PACOM (US Pacific Command), the biggest COCOM (Command Authority) out there, yep, you guessed it: also Navy.

Wow, Sir, you're right, we are really missing out.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The Army knows nothing about "do more with less," the Navy motto. Theirs is "do less with more". That is not a dig either. It's the truth. The fact that they are so specialized in their training they need five people to do the job that one sailor can do astounds me. I respect the Army because they have a difficult job, but they are not the most efficient organization. So right now, that is the how it feels to be Army.

Now to my task master boss. He has a good heart and wants to save lives, but if there is a way to make the easiest thing difficult, he will find it. When I sit and talk to him I just laugh in the back of my head, because he looks just like the pile of duke, that the chick in "Weird Science"
(80's cult classic movie) turns the bully older brother into. I know maybe not a movie that all my audience has seen, but it makes me laugh. When
you walk into his office you better be prepared to have a tasker, sometimes small, but most of the time large, and his closing words are
always "I want it by close of business". FUN. But the good thing is he is always on travel. Oh, the staff lives for the days when he is on travel,
just for the ability to catch up, and relax. Well enough on him. I don't want to give him the pleasure of taking over my blog as well.

So I was supposed to go on travel as most of you know, but my flight got cancelled today because of clouds. Yeah, so I find out today the Army does not like to fly in clouds. I thought to myself, "Self, aren't there always clouds when you go up high enough?" And my self told me, Yes, you are absolutely right". That is what it is like to be in the Army, just like Bill Engvall said, "Here's your sign.'

So on a lighter side have any of you opened your shower and seen a Sasquatch lately? If you do let me know.

Out and About

2008-04-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you know I'm traveling over the next week. I'm excited to get off base, but I know that Amy is not as mutual in that feeling. I would ask that you continue to pray for my safety and the safety of those around me. I hope to have some stories that I can tell when I get back. Until then, take care, and thanks for the comments, encouragement, and prayers. Those things go a long way for this Navy boy! And no, that's not how I'm getting around, just in case you were wondering.

2008-04-01T18:32:00.001-07:00

I am sure there are many of you that are wondering what I do all day, well... some days I wonder the same thing. The first thing I think I need to establish is that my official station is Joint Task Force Paladin, but the "Joint" really stands for "ARMY", so it should really read Army Task Force Paladin. In a nutshell we are the front line in fighting IED's (improvised Explosive Devices) in AFG. When I say front line, that is what I mean. We are like CSI, 24, and "The Unit" all rolled up into one, bad mamma jamma.

That is right I said "The Unit" for those of you have kept up with Amy's blog. I am now in the Unit and my call sign is "fresh breeze". For those of you who truly know me understand how fitting it is.

In the Army they have this thing called the "Battle Rhythm". In the Navy we call it the "Plan of the Day", same thing. So the first thing I found odd about Army Task Force Paladin was that nothing happens before 0900. People don't come to work before 0900. Now, of course, the locked-on "fresh breeze" is there at 0700 rain or shine, but that is "me" time. Those two hours are
the best of the day, no one to bother you, and you can actually get work done. I can even get some surfing in on the ultra slow net. At 0900 I enter the "Battle Rhythm" head on, with numerous meetings and working groups until noon, which is chow time.

At 1200 and 1800 I roll out with my Navy boys and we go and eat. Chow time is very interesting here. We are usually done eating in 15-20 minutes, but we typically spend over an hour in the whole event just talking and mostly making fun of the Army. This time is crucial because it helps pass the time.

From here the rest of the day is full of meetings, putting out fires, and getting called to the Colonel's office to answer questions. I typically stay in my office until 2200-2300, (which is 10 PM - 11 PM for my wife's benefit), then I start it all over again. If you have ever seen the movie "Groundhog Day", that is my life right now.

On the upside, there is opportunity to travel, which is coming up soon for me. When I first got these orders I didn't think I would want to leave the comfort and security of Bagram. But, after a month, I need to go, just to get away, don't you think? I thought you might enjoy a picture of "fresh breeze" in his natural state. Look at that killer! And yes, I did kill that whole pizza.

Until next post...

"fresh breeze"

The Big Give in AFG

2008-03-31T04:52:00.000-07:00

I am holding off on providing much about my surroundings in AFG until I get my digital camera (thanks once again to Chuck and Mandy Becker) because I cannot do it justice until I can provide pictures.

There is one specific thing I am doing currently that I want all of you to know about and think hard/pray about helping with. The Navy Supply
Officer I relieved, meaning I'm the one who replaced him so he could go home, is a friend of mine from our days back in Hawaii. He started his own humanitarian relief effort while he was here. I have taken it on, attempting to make it bigger and better than what I received.

I am providing two links that you can use to go to a couple of specific websites. The first is my individual page through a program called AnySoldier and the second is Operation Dreamseed, which is a program that coordinates with schools in America to donate school supplies.

I receive supplies and boxes, typically one or two a day, from random people all across America. It is truly amazing to see the willingness of people to graciously and sacrificially give. When I receive items, I work with two specific individuals, a rug vendor and an interpreter, to field these items to outlying villages throughout AFG. On my AnySoldier account you can see the latest photos of some of the work we have done.

In this country the average worker makes $5 a day, and they are extremely hard workers. Also, the temperature and overall weather in AFG is very drastic. In the winter, it is common to get 3 and 4 foot accumulations of snow and in the summer it is typically around 100-120 degrees. All that to say, clothes, coats, shoes, socks, etc. - the small things - really can change peoples lives and make a difference in AFG. So if you feel like you would like to contribute below is my address. Feel free to send as little or as much as you want, because it all goes to help people.

LT Craig Tecmire
JTF Paladin (J4)

Bagram Airfild, Afghanistan
APO-AE 09354

Let's Start with Kuwait

2008-03-29T18:18:00.001-07:00

This is a little late coming but I've had some technical problems (IT) in AFG (Afghanistan). Everything that might be construed as fun on the internet is blocked, go figure, I thought the Navy was bad, but the Army takes the cake. I can not get to my blog, so I have to bootleg my posts through Amy, who will post them for me in due time. As you all know she has been a little pre-occupied, and also on travel, and having a few IT problems of her own. For some reason, my blog was tagged as a possible spam blog, so they are reviewing it. In the meantime, keep dropping in and commenting so they'll know I'm legit. Plus, I'm enjoying hearing from friends and family.

So lets start in Kuwait...it is like going to the beach, except there is no water. It is HOT, setting the current world record for heat- 139 degrees! I arrive in Kuwait (Camp Virginia) around 0300, that is in the morning for you non-military types, and they put us in tents (see the lovely picture provided). So I start undressing to go to bed (I know nice visual) and it comes to me that I don't have a pillow or any sheets! What am I going to do? At this point I was introduced to the Army way. You were issued a sleeping bag, and that is your linen/pillow for the rest of your time. So of course no one had given us a heads up on this, and my sleeping bag was at the bottom of one of the four sea bags I had to haul a couple hundred yards, and who knows in which one. So I dig it out and used my dirty clothes bag as a pillow. Now that is fun with a capital "F". Nothing like sniffing your drawers every time you turn over.

So around 0500 (that is still in the morning) I'm feeling nature call, of course, so I start the search for the "Holy Grail" to find the facilities, and this is what I found:

No lights. No nothing. That is what you call a leap of faith. So after I picked myself up off the ground from opening the door and the stench blowing me over, I was able to finish what I had started. Let me tell you, every one of you should run to your Porcelain Honda (toilet) right now and kiss it (clean or dirty) because like the band Cinderella said in the 80's, "You don't know what you got till it's gone". Job Johnnies suck! Well enough about toilets and bodily processes, let's move onto hygiene. The next picture is the trailer that you have to use to shower in (it was nice) except it was like 200 yards away, through the sand. The first morning I start the pilgrimage to the shower.

When I get there I am pleasantly surprised at the accommodations, until I have to make the journey back to the ponderosa. I only had shower shoes, so thus as the name states you wear them into the shower, they get wet in the shower, then you walk back with wet shower shoes through the Gobi and what happens, man you guys are fast, you have sand all over your feet by the time you make it back to the tent. So how do you get it off, because I mean it is everywhere, do you spit on your feet, do you try to knock it off with your towel, I don't know, I just got a bottle of water and attempted to get it off. I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I quickly learned that you have to wear something else besides shower shoes.

To chase a rabbit, though it's a funny story, the next day I was in the shower and I heard some commotion outside. I didn't think much of it because don't forget this is communal living, figured it was some other hairy back showing up for his daily shower. But no, it wasn't and wasn't I surprised when some 4 foot Haggie ripped open the shower curtain to clean my stall. The funnier thing was to see his expression when he saw that Sasquatch did exist and was in the shower stall he needed to clean. It was one of the events you wished you had on video, with the exception of my nakedness. Overall Kuwait was a hell hole, and I don't use that term loosely. While I was there I got stuck in a sand storm for two days, so we sat around and watched movies, went to the library and attempted to use the internet. Over hear it is all T1 connections that run slower than dial-up, so that is quite a bit of fun. The one good thing about Kuwait was the food was awesome!

Well, I hope I have not bored you to tears but, that was Kuwait, and my next post will start with Afghanistan. Later!

Blog is coming!!

2008-03-09T03:57:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned I will be up and running soon.