Going Down Range

Going home

2006-03-17T21:14:00.000+01:00

I am a wee bit drunk as I type this. 365 days ago I was also drunk. How do I remember that fact? That was the last time I had a few pints before I went to Afghanistan was also St. Patrick’s Day. Now I was back at the same pub drinking a few pints, but I did stop this time after five pints, because soon I will be flying on the big iron bird home to my wife and kids, versus going down range.

For the past ten days I have been out processing or de-mobilizing in army speak. Go to CIF to turn in my body armor and all my other bits of field gear. Have the doctor ask me about my health, metal and physical. Did I see any dead bodies? I asked him US, coalition, or civilian? He put down yes in all three columns. Finance calculated my terminal or now referred to as transition leave. The dentist advised me to get my teeth cleaned when I got home. I now have three big folders, stuffed with papers, saying I am now a combat veteran. It feels like I just I blinked my eyes and I was leaving, but when I think about it was a long 365 days in Kandahar. I am trying to remember how many ramp ceremonies I went to. Way too many. But we (The US military) did lots of good there. I have no regrets. I helped open schools, train the Afghan National Army and Police, secure roads and arrange Hajj pilgrims go to Mecca. This fact will never make the newspapers or the cable new trash channels: there are no protesters chanting: “Americans go home, come back Taliban.” The Afghans like us and want us to stay. And stay we will. I expect tours in Afghanistan will be like tours for US personnel in Korea during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. A long hardship tour.

The interpreters I worked with wished me good luck and a safe journey home. I told them that I would visit them in a few years with my family and show them where the TICs and IEDs were at. I gave them a hug and wished them a safe, peaceful and prosperous future.

What is interesting is how many soldiers are going to the Active Army from the reserve. A lot. A few requested Iraq. That was a surprise. A couple of soldiers are ETS’ing or leaving the army, but many more re-upped to stay in the reserves. This is a post in it self.

I will be writing and posting a few more images when I get home. I have many themes and ideas for more posts written down in my notebook. I have a few ideas for a novel that I am bouncing around. Maybe if I have enough or as my platoon Sergeant would say “make some time” I start will writing.

While I was at the bar we were making toast: “to electricity, to in-door plumbing, or beer.” Then people mentioned names of fallen comrades. Last somebody said “To Tehran in ’07.”

Driving through a village.

PCO=A cell phone that is for rent, since telephone land lines are non-existent. Shops along highway four toward Spin Buldak.

Hello

2006-02-27T11:08:00.000+01:00

Sorry for not blogging for a while. I have been a wee bit busy getting ready to leave the AO. I will put up some more posts frequently since my replacement is now up to speed. I like to say thank you for all of you who drop by.

Here is one post that I wrote a while back:

One common thread you hear about troops who may be leaving the military is most will be going for a higher education at college and university. With over a million troops with experience in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility and many of them will being going to universities and colleges when they return to America. Remember that many of the leftovers of the radical 60’s who could not make it in the free market economy retreated to the ivy towers of Academia will be in for a rude awakening with the influx of former military who have witnessed our enemies terror and will correct their Michael Moore leanings. It will be hard for a professor to argue against a veteran who was an eye witness to enemy atrocities. Relying on the biased press and dated theories will be their down fall against reality.

Uncle Sam is buying soldiers some new magazines to use from HK.

I have seen this piece of crap and this review sums up this video debacle.

Construction trucks in the countryside.

Apologies, Iran, bomber, definition, Canada, and images.

2006-01-18T12:18:00.000+01:00

Sorry for not writing for a while; I have been busy for a while. That’s what happens when you are in a war zone. Also I have to crank out studies, evaluations, after action reports, and plans to get out of here. So typing a blog entry is sometimes a task that I have been putting off.

Here is a great video on what it is like to be a sniper, not like that MTV/Hollywood crap.

If this is true, does this mean Iran is waging a proxy war against the US? The government of Iran must know what is going on within its own country. Are they encouraging it?

This was ugly. Most of the dead were women and children shopping before Eid-Islamic version of Christmas- a happy festive time. The Afghans I talked to want to kill all the Taliban for targeting women and children, but the Taliban just shrug their shoulders saying “inshallah” or God wills it.

Oh yes, Mr Journalist here is a tip, I know it might be picky, but it was not a suicide bomber. A suicide bomber is one who loads up with explosives, walk out in the field, cries out “ bye, bye cruel world!” and kills himself, hence “suicide” bomber. The asshole who at this attack killed children, women, men where innocent and was at the wrong place and time was a murder. Right? He wanted to collect his 72 virgins, but forgot that he will be standing in line behind a few thousand dead terrorist before he can have his way with his burka boy.

The Canadians are here for peacekeeping, but it will be more of peace making after this. I am glad that Canada will not get the Spanish Flu and run home.

I went to the ramp ceremony for the murdered diplomat. It was moving send off with a bag piper playing “amazing grace.” A few thousand US, Canadian, British, Dutch, French, and Afghan soldiers stood at attention when his casket was loaded on the plane.

There will be more like that coming up, but we joke that murder bombers are a one time use weapon. Also the murder bombers are Arabs and the Afghans now have another reason to hate Arabs even more. It does not make the media, but a many of them have been stopped by various means and the locals are ratting them out since the Taliban does not care about the welfare of the local citizens.

I will have another post soon. Have a nice and fine US army day!

Vendors in Kandahar City.

Flying above the country side.

Merry Christmas

2005-12-24T17:33:00.000+01:00

I like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and safe and bountiful New Year.
Take care and God bless you.

Local children

Quote fore the day: Every day is Monday.

Images and our press

2005-12-22T15:21:00.000+01:00

A building that is going up outside of KAF.

The “Golden Arches” in Kandahar City. It is a prominent landmark to navigate in the city. There are not many billboards in Afghanistan, but most are selling cell phone service.

This is a post on some of the ass hats in the media. She is spot on.

Links galore

2005-12-22T07:53:00.000+01:00

Here are a few good articles to read. I will put a decent post up soon, but I have been busy.

Let’s see if the Europeans can pull their weight.

We will find out today if the Dutch will do so. But the Canadians may be holding the bag.

Want to see the UN and Afghans debate? Read this.

More news from Afghanistan that will never make the crap pile in America.

Torture? I know people who pay money to go to places like this.

Here are some of the Michael Moore’s buddies in action. What a bunch ass hats. Do you wonder why the Afghans rat them out?

Is this the way we declare victory over al Qaeda? We will win, but it will take just as long at to defeat communism.
This is al Qaeda’s vision. This is what we are fighting. Notice they don’t give crap about Bush. Clinton, Bush, and Kerry; they are all the same in al Qaeda’s book: Infidels to kill.

Quote: He may be a shithead, but he is our shithead.

End state, crap, irony, and media

2005-12-14T17:21:00.000+01:00

The Taliban and al Qaeda will never negotiate with the infidel Americans and their Afghan lackies. The Coalition, US and Afghan forces can not eliminate hatred, misogamy and pedophilia and those are some of the better qualities of the Taliban. The US is promoting education, democracy, economic growth and women’s rights. When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, they did the opposite. The US will have a presence in Afghanistan for many more years. Just ask the Germans, Italians, and Japanese how long America has bases on their soil. Ask any Afghan if they want the US to leave and the answer is no. We are seen as the fair dealers and the one nation who has backed up our words with deeds. The Russians and Taliban had their chance and blew it. Now it Americans and with the Coalition Nations who are hunting the Taliban down and helping the Afghans join the community of nations in the 21st century. The Taliban will be around but marginalized, consorting with criminals and those who want to warp time and go back 700 years.

I have seen this piece of crap and this review sums up this video debacle.

If you look hard, you can see this happening. The US is helping Muslims go on the Hajj. Life is full of irony.

Did you hear about this in the news in America? I bet not, but you did see this jem. Once you read the Globe's article do you get the impression that we are loosing with the photo adding weight? Remember blood and sex sell. Ignore that crap in the defeatist press, read some good analysis and get the real scoop instead of listening to the droning marionettes on the boob tube.

Supporting the students.

I am back

2005-12-07T16:59:00.000+01:00

Hello I am back. I have been kind of busy, it happens in a war zone. One small and lame reason I have not posted for a while was I lost my personal USB memory stick. Usually I carry it all the time so when I have an ideal to post I can open up a word document and start typing away or resize images. When I go out on a mission and that has been happening more lately, I usually clean out my pockets and take out personal items to leave back in my room. Also I get kind of anal retentive or OCD about packing ammo, GPS, map, spare power bars, knives and mission related items. So when I came back I could not find my memory stick; I ripped apart my section of the room. So guess what happened? I lost my memory stick and went ape shit for a few days.

I have been working with the Afghans and I have come to the conclusions that most have a complete different set of values. If something does not happen or goes to shit, it is not somebody’s fault or responsibility. It is “ishmal Allah” or God wills it. It is frustrating and I feel sorry for the interpreters who are stuck in the middle between a US soldier and the Afghan National Army, Police or Border Police.

It is a trip to go in to a village or even Kandahar city because if you took away the cars, bicycles, Jingle trucks and cell phones, this place would have look the same as it did a thousand years ago.

Also it a land of extreme contrasts here. You will see an old man on a cart being pulled by a donkey yakking away on a cell phone or a herd of sheep moving out of the way in a village with dirt streets for a Lexus SUV with gold trim and pimped out rims. You can drive by mud huts and then see a palace that looks like it came off the strip in Las Vegas.

We go rocketed a few weeks ago, but big deal. It is harassment fire. The real big news that murder bombers are being imported. 90% or more Afghans hate them. Ask them and they say rightly that all they kill is civilians. They are right. US forces have the means to fight them. Civilians are just Taliban and al Qaeda collateral damage. One of the interpreters I worked with said if he sees an empty taxi, he runs away.

A store on the side of the road.

Quote for the day: This has been an extreme exercise of futility. Let’s do it again tomorrow.

Controversy, vets and poster

2005-10-22T18:26:00.000+02:00

There is a controversy going on. Some of the Afghans I talked to said that the Taliban deserved what they got. One mentioned that car bombs are bad and why is the Taliban getting upset? What does a suicide bomber looks like after he perpetrates his evil deed? They blasphemed Islam and put Afghanistan through hell, so it is pay back. A few soldiers said we were giving them a Viking warrior funeral. Yes, it is against the Geneva War Convention, some soldiers are saying that the reporter is making a quick buck that and is out to crap on the US Army. I say there is nothing off the record with the press around, so I will do my research on an embedded reporter. As a soldier, I might be his next meal ticket or victim, so I will mind my P’s and Q’s around the press.

The VFW has an article about Vietnam vetrans who are still serving. It is an interesting contrast and shows how time changes or don't change the situation.

Afghan Anti-opium poster

Postscript: Over at the Intel dump, an intelligent analysis is put forth and at StrategyPage tells what is the impact in the Islamic world. Trust me the everyday Afghan does not give a rat’s ass what happens to the Taliban. There are no big demonstrations by the Afghans going on right now. The Afghans just want to crawl out of the 14th century that was imposed on by the Taliban. The Taliban had their chance to rule Afghanistan and they blew it. Now they are assassinating Mullahs (leading Muslim clerics) Non Governmental (doctors and nurses) charity workers and government officials. What a bush of ass hats.

Comedy, Canadians, lamers, wantabe heros and kids.

2005-10-19T13:28:00.000+02:00

I am busy, but here are a few items that stand out:

We had a few comedians drop by to help us forget that we are here for a few minutes. They were both funny and one even made a diary on line of his adventures here while did his comedy tour. His comments about “Burka boy Thursday” and the ramp ceremony are spot on, sick and funny. You got to be here to understand.

The Canadians are now going for blood.

He is right, paint ball is for lamers. This why I joined the army, because cleaning house is fun! Check out the video.

Since I have been here, I can catch a few minutes of ESPN, baseball or other athletic games on AFN. Now I look at athletes as well paid actors. You want to meet some great athletes, join the military. We stay in shape because it is life and death matter. Football players with their bling bling attitude, give me a f'ing break. Basketball players: what a bunch of prima donnas. Don’t even get me going about soccer players-what a bunch of fakers and pussies; especially the European variety. So check out the Best Ranger contest and see some real athletes. I hope AFN and Discovery Channel broadcast it again.

Kids on the side of the road.

Favor, NATO, virgins and store

2005-10-15T20:22:00.000+02:00

I am going to do the media a favor. They can cut and paste the following for a headline: We are winning in Afghanistan. The BLUF or Bottom Line Up Front: Two successful elections and no real opposition to the election. That’s right – no suicide bombers at the polling or voting stations. Yes there was violence, but not enough to scare Afghans from voting. The elections have been certified by the UN and other NGOs as being fair and conducted according to international standards. How do I know this? Unlike the majority of the media, I am here in Afghanistan. I see this place everyday. I run on it roads. I have delivered donated clothes, books and toys to Afghan children. I talk and drink chia with village elders, and play with their children. I have seen the progress for the last six months. This might piss off those who hate the US Army and or America, but Afghanistan is making a slow climb out of the dark ages of the Russian occupation who tried to impose their version of compassionate socialism and vicious Taliban/al Qaeda rule. Women ran for office and voted; for a very Islamic country that is progressive. Even the Kuchis voted. On the ladder of life, the Kutchis or nomads are looked down upon by many Afghans and will be represented in the new parliament. Food is being grown in record crop levels and refugees are returning en mass. Will any of the whiners on the left say anything good about the US Army for helping Afghanistan? That is our mission here: to help the Afghans after years of hell and establish democracy. Do you support us and our mission?

This pretty well confirms everything. When I talk to the Dutch, British and Canadians and ask them: will your country go crazy and pull out if your country suffers casualties? Most of the soldiers just mumble or smile.

A Saudi’s look at the 72 virgin part of being a suicide bomber. Every Afghan I have ever talked to calls suicide bombers Arab pussies who do not fight like a man.

A store in Kandahar.

Ramp ceremonies, ISAF, and playing ball

2005-09-30T13:43:00.000+02:00

Over the past week I have been to three ramp ceremonies. One was for a French soldier who was killed right before the election. Soldiers from all the militaries on KAF lined up and rendered a salute as a coffin draped with the French tricolor was placed in front of the ramp of a French Armee de l’Air (Air Force) C-130. An officer read in French and English a tribute to the soldier and then a Chaplin recited a prayer. After that he was loaded on to the aircraft and headed home.

Next a CH-47 went down and five soldiers were killed in that crash. Over at A Storm in Afghanistan writes about the ramp ceremony, since the five soldiers killed were from his unit.

Then we one more soldier who was killed in a TIC and I was back on the ramp doing the right thing and paying my respects in a military fashion. When I go to a ramp ceremony I will spend a few minutes in silence at parade rest with a few hundred other soldiers from all the coalition nations that are waiting to snap to the position of attention and salute the fallen comrade in arms one last time on his or her way home. During those minutes I do a lot of thinking: am I a good soldier, husband or father? How will I be remembered if I buy the farm? When I make it out of here what will I do? Where will I go? Seeing a coffin pretty well drives home the message that I am mortal and have to make the most of the short time while I am here on terra firma. Most of the time I think I am doing good- but when I am away from my family, friends and country, while reading the newspapers online, sometimes doubts creep in to the back of my mind. Those thoughts are erased when I go into an Afghan village and the villagers tell me about the horrors that they suffered under the Taliban. That is another blog entry there.

This is a spot on report on Afghanistan coming form all places Parameters! It was written by a Canadian. What is the world coming to? The article is polite but tells of the problems that ISAF has. Unity of command is a problem, being cheap and not being able to bring enough personnel and equipment to do the job. Some say ISAF want to avoid casualties and just drive around with their national flag for display.

Playing ball with a boy.

Election

2005-09-17T17:44:00.000+02:00

How and why to vote in Pashto and Dari

What have you done to advance democracy? Did you run for office? Did you vote? Pass out flyers for a cause or candidate? I am right now waiting for a mission and typing this little monograph while millions of Afghans are going to vote tomorrow. I and many soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen of the US military and coalition forces (CF) have helped create an environment for the Afghans elect their representatives for the Wolesi Jirga or Afghan Congress. For many of us, this is the highlight or main reason of our tour here. Many soldiers from the US and Afghan armies have died or have been wounded to ensure this election despite the actions of the Taliban and al Qeada. The elections will be held and life will go on or as one of the interpreters said “Allah wills it even if the Taliban are fools.” Then he said “Tashakure” or thank you in Pashto as he left last night to go home so he could vote tomorrow. That is what I and my brothers and sisters in arms are doing for democracy.

Reason, flag, posters and Freedom Watch

2005-09-11T17:05:00.000+02:00

This is why I and many more are here in Afghanistan. I want to make sure that my children do not have to make this decision.

Today I was one of many raising the US flag above the Taliban Last Stand (TLS) building. Many of the flags will be going back to friends and families in the US. It is sobering knowing that where I was raising the US flag the Taliban used to walk around. Now we have the Taliban on the run and the election next Sunday will be another nail in their coffin. Rumor has it that they are making deals with drug industry to survive. What a surprise.

This image shows all the posters for the 200 plus candidates running for office. The candidates are pressing the flesh around here to win.

Do you really want to know what is going on in Afghanistan? Read this. Many of us here from all the different coalition forces read it.

Katrina and Afghan notes and interpeter conversation.

2005-09-10T13:32:00.000+02:00

This is why it takes time to move an Army unit to a natural disaster. Logistics.

Here is a view form the Air National guard in New Orleans.

The 82nd Airborne in NOLA.

Afghan Gastation

This is a sure sign that life in Afghanistan is returning to normal. When refugees are returning, this means that they feel that they will arrive to a stable area that they can start living life again. This is progress that I bet will not be in the newspapers in America.

This will never make the media and will show how big the hearts of American soldiers are. God bless the child and the medical professionals who care for her.

Camels on the side of the road.

I was talking to an interpreter who grew up with the Taliban in Kandahar. He told me from a child’s perspective of the insanity of the Taliban – how the Taliban trashed public women’s toilets and banned women from going to school or working under pain of death. Also the Taliban stole money from people to buy expensive cars then raced the cars around Kandahar air field since no flights from other countries landed there. They killed off most of the airport staff. The Taliban lived the high life not the religion they preached and if anybody who questioned them, it was then time to head to the football field to be executed. As a boy he went to a wedding that played tradition Afghan music, so the Taliban raided the wedding because music was banned and the Bride’s father and the Groom both went to jail for a few weeks. He was glad that America came and liberated Afghanistan from the Taliban and told me about the Taliban fleeing to the mountains to avoid the wrath of the people. He said that he and most Afghans do not want America to leave or tribal differences will tear Afghanistan apart. Becoming a true nation will take a few generations to over come tribal differences.

When I told him that ISAF or the European and Canadians will be arriving to help soon, he just smiled and said that he did not trust the Europeans. “It was the Americans who liberated us-not the Europeans” he said. Americans were not afraid to die with the Afghans to free Afghanistan of the Taliban- that is how you could summarize the next five minutes of our conversation.

Driving, book, background and quote.

2005-09-04T13:50:00.000+02:00

Image by CLS

A few days ago I was driving around Kandahar and it was not like doing the same around home. You know the drill: walk out to your car, start it up and drive to your destination. Not so for us here in sunny Afghanistan. Our little jaunt started about two to three hours with an intel brief on our route. We were told that an IED was found on the road recently- so a few of our team were nervous, but others felt relieved, since that was one less IED to worry about. Then a briefing for all members of the convoy was held right before we left to spell out duties if we encounter a specific event such as an IED, RPG and machine gun fire or a blocked or unblocked ambush. Everybody knew the drill. Basically it was straight out of the Ranger Handbook.

Then we prepped radios and weapons, pulled maintenance on the vehicle and other equipment, and talked about what we do if we had a flat tire.

It was nerve racking for a while, not because I thought we might get center punched by an IED or have a RPG start off a TIC, but the local Afghan drivers make New York cabbies look polite. We were on a two lane road that is a major highway in Afghanistan, but it was no bigger than the street I live on in America. There were farm tractors, semi-trucks, bicycles, farm animals and camels on the road with everybody passing the slow pokes. Afghans just shrug off traffic accidents as divine act or “Allah wills it.” The driver of our vehicle was smiling while driving and I asked him why and he said “I’m getting paid to drive like an a$%^@# with weapons and nobody gives me s%^& about it.” Asked where he learned how to drive like a bat out of hell, he replied “GAT-SA.” That is gamer talk for the video game “Grand Auto Theft-San Andreas.” So I had a professional wheelman driving me around. I felt better and went back to scanning my sector.

I will not go into detail on our mission other than it was successful and we were not hit by an IED or hostile fire. Children waived to us and we waived back. If you are going on the on the town you will meet children; so carry pens, candy and Pepsi-those are the most requested items by children in Afghanistan.

I will be reading Mr. Peter’s new book. He might be a little too right-wing for some, but as a retired MI officer, he knows his “stuff” in most soldiers’ eyes.

Some background of the fall of the Taliban.

Quote: "I think I lost my faith in Atheism."

Hot, election and sunglasses

2005-09-01T16:11:00.000+02:00

It is hot outside for the Taliban. So hot for 16 of them, that they are going collect on their virgins real soon. This confirms what we hear outside all the time: the constant sounds of helicopters and CAS flying in support of operations.

Guess how the Taliban deals with those who are involved with the election? Behead them.

One of the icons of WWII was the Ray Ban aviator sunglasses. Remember the Life Magazine cover with Douglass Macarthur? Guess what he was wearing? Those sunglasses set the standard of cool. Now we are in the 21st century and the US Army issuing Wiley X ballistic eye protection to all soldiers in the CENTCOM AO. Earlier version of ballistic eye protection was butt ugly. Who wanted to go into battle wearing safety glasses that were dubbed birth control glasses by the troops? With glasses that ugly nobody wore them. Then regular Army soldiers saw the Special Operations Forces looking cool wearing the Wiley X optics . Cool like Neo out the movie "The Matrix." Now all the troops want to wear their new safety/ballistic eye protection. Even the Coalition Forces and the ANA want them. Fifty years from now when you look at videos and images on how we won the war on terror and defeat the Taliban and al Qaeda you will see you a US Army soldier with his or hers WileyX sunglasses.

Postscript: I just found out that Oakley just got the contract for ballistic eyewear. I will be trying to get a new pair for myself.

Video, dope, TIC, and jingle truck

2005-08-28T16:13:00.000+02:00

Over at The Siegrist Blog there is an awesome video. Go check it out.

You dope, America has not forgotten Afghanistan. That is why I and 18 thousand troops are here fighting against this. Remember, on the 18th September Afghanistan will have an election despite the wishes of the Taliban.

This really describes what a Troops In Contact (TIC- as we say in the 21st century US Army) is like. Mr. Yon is one of the best writers around and should be published in every newspaper. His blog puts the New York Times to shame.

Here is another jingle truck image.

Heat

2005-08-24T17:00:00.000+02:00

It is a bit hot around here. The first type of heat is the type that the US and Coalition Forces are putting on the Taliban and al Qaeda overlords. Right now there have been a few casualties here in Afghanistan, but it is not widely reported that the Taliban has taken a lot of hits. Most of the heat is in a few provinces and the rest of the Afghanistan is cool and peaceful. All the locals know what the Taliban stands for-they were in power and ran the country like feudal fiefdom. The local populace will decide who will win by voting and not being intimated by the Taliban. The parliamentary election will be held on the 18th of September. Actually the Taliban is so stupid, if they were smart they would run for office or form a political front with candidates like other terrorist organizations has done in the past, but they hate the concept of democracy so much will not do so. Guess who is the real losers are? Yep, our adversaries from the 14th century-the Taliban.

The second type is the good old type is generated by the sun. Here is image of how hot it was a few weeks ago. Today it topped out at 119 degrees. In the morning it is cool at 80 degrees so running is nice.

Good news, links and entertainment.

2005-07-24T17:23:00.000+02:00

Good new from Afghanistan. Read all of this and you will know more about Afganistan than 99% percent of the world.

More links from soldeirs in A'stan
The Hooker and his Girl
The Siegrist Blog

If you are linking to my page let me know and I will add your page to the blog roll on the left. Thanks!!

When it rains; it pours and a few weeks ago we had some good entertainers performed at KAF. The British had a road show with a Comedian. He was not “ PC as you F____ Americans would say.” He was pretty funny, busting on US Forces, food in the field, the lack of women, alcohol and how soldiers dealt with those and other issues.

Also the Brits had four female dancers who looked like they were enjoying each-one soldier said they look like Madonna side show.

The British comedian was funny picking soldiers while performing his act. The last part of the British Road Show had band that played good rock and roll.

The Denver Bronco Cheerleaders came and one soldier commented that it was like high school pep rally with hottest cheerleaders. They had soldiers up on stage acting silly dressed in different clothes.

An all girl AC/DC metal cover band “Thund her Struck” was the last of the entrainment streak. They were good, but they needed a bigger sound system. Heavy metal should be at deafening levels to make sure that the Taliban would hear it.

I will be away from the computer for the next few weeks, but don't worry I will be back.

Rocket attack, mines, anwsers, new links and quote

2005-07-14T16:51:00.000+02:00

Yes, there was a rocket attack here. I am all right. Don’t worry, I what did I was suppose to do and I will not go into much detail other that when you hear a rocket fly over your head, it sounds like God is ripping a big bed sheet and a loud bang like an artillery cannon going off, but with a different pitch when the rocket impacts. I understand two civilian contractors were seriously injured, but basically it was harassment fire. The next morning you could see how people deal with stress: some were a bit quieter and others were making morbid jokes. I just said a prayer, made my list of tasks and started my duty for the day-smiling, because I am alive.

You see lots of these all over the place, courtesy of the former Soviet Union.

Mike posted asks two questions in the comment section in a previous post. Here are the two answers to his question. I like beef jerky. Especially the beef bits from Tillamook Country Smoker. It is bit cheaper in the PX! That's some good bits, Jed!

The employees at Chilis and Applebee’s in the mall are all Third Country Nationals or (TCNs). As I was told, native born citizens of Qatar get a check form the government for 80 thousand dollars a year. They don’t have to work, just run a businesses. The majority (80%) of the residents of Qatar are TCNs. There is no immigration, just guest workers (TCNs) and if a female citizen of Qatar marries a non-citizen, her children will not be citizens of Qatar. Most TCN workers live in a separate section of Doha, Qatar and send their money to their families back in the home country. Most of the time they will make better money there than at home.

Updated for the sidebar or new links:

US Army in Afghanistan
Firepower Forward - The Cutting Edge of Freedom
A Storm in Afghanistan

Citizens from Afghanistan
Afghan Pundit
Afghan LORD
Afghan Reality
Sanjar
ABOUT AFGHANISTAN در باره افغانستان

Quote: I think I want to become a mole.

Movies and tools

2005-07-09T15:52:00.000+02:00

During the last few weeks I seen a few movies, such as the new Star Wars, Batman, and Mr and Mrs. Smith on pirated DVD.

I am no professional movie critic, but after being here in a war zone I look at movies differently.

I was laughing AT the stupidity of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are supposed to be a pair of great assassins? GTFOOH! They would flunk out of basic rifle marksmanship and close quarter battle drill. The scene when they shoot up their own house-what a joke. Brad is a pogue and Angelina is a bad joke.

Star Wars: Hayden Christensen is Darth Vader? Nope he is a total wanker as the Brits would say. What a whimp.

Batman: cool car and decent action. One bitch, if you have to go hand to hand, show the real blood and guts, not the wimpy crap.

Here are some images of old tools being dusted off to reach out and touch the enemy

Images and hot

2005-07-04T18:17:00.000+02:00

Since it is the Forth of July and being an American, I figure I should post two images related our country’s birthday. First is an image of old glory flying through a hole blasted by a JDAM in the “Taliban Last Stand” building or referred by its acronym “TLS.” The building was where the Taliban got their wish for 72 virgins courtesy of the USAF.

We can be far away from home, but we can bring a little bit of home to Kandahar. Today the DFAC served steak, lobster, shrimp, ribs and near beer. It was good, now I will have to run and lift tonight.

Guess I used today? A toilet and shower. You might think big deal, but for all the residents of modular housing here, we had to walk a block or two to a shipping container that was converted into a mobile latrine. Now we have to don’t walk outside half a sleep to use the toilet at night.

It has cooled off to the low 100’s instead of 140 degrees plus. I know it was hot when soldiers who served in Iraq were complaining saying that it is hotter here than Iraq.

Something is going on, news, detective, image and quote

2005-06-30T18:17:00.000+02:00

I hate to tell some people back in America but there is still a war going on in Afghanistan. Right now American forces are going after the Taliban and they are killing lots of them. Remember that the Taliban ruled Afghanistan and an overwhelming majority of Afghans do not want the Taliban and their al Qeada overlords back. All they are trying to do is discredit the Afghan Government and upcoming election. Remember the Taliban is not a great fan of democracy or women rights to an education.

Here is more news from Afghanistan.
Sometimes strange things can happen anywhere. I hope there are more like her soon. . (Hat tip to Wretchard at the Belmont Club)

Riding shotgun.

Quote: Whining is like masturbation; you should not do it in public and it makes you go blind.

Memory, Russian vehciles or irony and quote

2005-06-26T14:06:00.001+02:00

What do you have around your neck? When I joined the army years ago, it used to be a set of dogs tags on a chain. Now I have my dog tags with three memory sticks to told official and personal information such images from my from my wife. The other two memory sticks carry power point presentations, standard operating procedures and other army information. The one of the more interesting facts is the two of the memory sticks each has two gigs of memory. When I was a young, 64k of memory was a lot and I stored applications on cassette tape. Now I have short movies stored five gigs of memory. In a few years this shall be dwarfed.

Here are some images of vehicles that were donated by Russia to Afghanistan.

The Russians paint a reminder on each vehicle.

A few soldiers wonder why these vehicles were not torched, since the last time the Russians were here was not under the best conditions.

Quote: When you run out a whooa, call an air strike.

Sorry, but I am not dead

2005-06-16T09:20:00.000+02:00

I am sorry for not posting for the past few weeks. A while back I went on R&R to Qatar for four days. The US Army runs a facility that is used by troops to relax from the combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is part of a big logistics facility at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. It was nice to sleep in without the fear of a rocket attack, use real toilets and take a nice long hot shower. The dinning facility was good. There was Baskin and Robin’s ice cream, unlimited Gatorade and lots of good fruit to eat. At the gym there were tons of free weight and weight machines with an Orange Julius that charged $1.50 extra for a scoop of protein powder with their drinks. The bonus part was going to Chilis and getting a nice big cheese burger and a real beer. Each soldier is allowed three beers a day. The Army sold beer tickets that cost three dollars and was tracked to your social security number. Some troops were selling their beer tickets for seven or eight dollars at the end of the night. Bonus points was that there were a swimming pool next to Chilis.

One nice part of R & R was that expat Americans who lived in Qatar picked up and drove us soldiers around the city, to the mall or gold souk (market). Part of going out is to wear pants, no shorts, women had to wear modest clothing and guys had to have collars on their shirts. The big mall in the city is supposed to be the fifth biggest in the world. It had a CarreFour, a French hypermart. Also there are many high price shops selling luxury items and two or three store selling sporting goods. Lst, there were five to ten stores that sold burkas for women.

In the food court had the best of fast food eateries: McDonalds, KFC, Taco Bell, Anthony’s Pizza and others. But the real prize was sitting down and ordering a steak at Applebee’s. I ordered a nice big juicy steak, bake potato and a huge class of lemonade. It was good service and nice to sit down and order a meal. It felt like I was home, except I was not with my family.

One though came to my mind while I was walking about the mall. I was looking for a bookshop to buy the latest bestseller, classic of literature, or some tales of old Arabic culture; something like the Norse sagas, or tales of old for the region to read while sitting at Starbucks. To my amazement there were no bookstores in the mall. This might be trivial to you, but to me bookstores are a repository of knowledge where ideas can be disseminated or knowledge can be purchased for the inquisitive. Not here.

While driving around most of the notable buildings were five to ten years old. The skyline is peppered with cranes for construction. This is the effect of having vast reserves of natural gas underground.

The gold souq or market in Arabic was interesting. Think of a small mall made of marble with 20 or so jewelry shops selling gold, pearls and other precious stones. The gold was 10% to 20% cheaper than in America without any taxes, but the prices of pearls were rock bottom. So I did some Christmas shopping.

For troops who golf and are lucky, there were trips to the PGA golf course, but were advised to go early. The temperatures went to 110-120 with humidity. You could change to shorts when you start playing, but with the heat you were advised to drink half a gallon of water, since the heat could drop a man.

It was nice to relax for a few days. Now it is back to the task to helping Afghanistan to join the 21st century.

Running, Jingle truck

2005-05-22T17:17:00.000+02:00

Sometime when I have a spare hour I will run early in the morning or early evening. I used to run a lot, but running here offers many special challenges that I would not encounter back home. Since there are no paved roads or sidewalks here, you share them with John Deere Gators, Humvees, Jingle trucks, construction equipments and other vehicles. So you are sucking a lung full of dust. If you stray off the roads you can end up in a minefield and that is not good for your health. Also since none of the roads are paved they are covered with gravel. Not the small stuff, but big rocks, the size of golf balls. With the small rocks or big gravel I have to be careful not to sprain ankle or go on profile for a week in the sick, lame and lazy section. Now I am learning to love the treadmills now.

Smoke and sunset

2005-05-16T06:15:00.001+02:00

So Newsweek is blowing smoke . You might think big deal while reading this and drinking your morning cup of coffee or whatever, but for us (US military and coalition forces) life became infinitely harder and more dangerous . More here and here. If a soldier is killed at a riot or rocket attack based on this faulty reporting, will Newsweek standup, take the blame and pay a financial penalty for a wrongful death suit? I know the blame goes on the terrorists who are fanning the flames by broadcasting propaganda from mosques PA systems, but where did they get their information from? A bogus Newsweek report. So thanks a lot Newsweek for making our life so much easier. I hope the reporter who wrote the great piece of fiction goes on a patrol with US Forces and see what he has wroth. So Mark you want to join the party that you started?

Sunset in Kandahar.

Money and fun

2005-05-15T11:44:00.000+02:00

Some say that money makes the world go around and sometimes I agree. Here there are two forms of money. There is the good old Greenback, or more commonly known as the United States Dollar. Then there is the Eagle cash or money that a soldier takes out of their paycheck and put in a rechargeable debit card that has a smart chip. Therefore a soldier will not have to carry cash to buy toiletries, the latest Jayzee CD, the Bourne Supremacy on DVD, munchies, local trinkets, copies of Maxim, or items that catches their eye. Even the change comes back in pogs of 25 or 50 cents, because pennies, nickels, and dimes cost more to handle or count than they are worth.

Do you know who like the buck, dead presidents or dollar? The local Afghan merchant. On Saturdays when the local bazaar is held, dollars are exchanged for Niam carpets, pirated DVD, Marlboro cigarettes made in Korea, antique Lee Enfield rifles and other trinkets. The Afghan merchant is a related to merchant at the old town square of yesterday who know his latest high tech toys and DVD releases. Soon the Afghani (local currency) will be the money of choice since the dollar will not be allowed at the bazaar soon.

Guess who knows a little more about money than the publicly held image? The US soldier. Right now I know some who are speculating in currency. There is talk that the Afghani will go up in value after the national parliamentary election that will guarantee IMF loans and more aid from the international community. So some troops are playing the market. Also with so many troops based in Europe, they are hedging bets that the Euro will loose value after the French reject the EU constitution. That is where the smart money is. Trust the low ranking troop. He or she sees the ground truth and is betting a down payment on a Mercedes or Harley on it.

This is a small sample of how you can have fun in Afghanistan..

Respect, read, image, quote, and note

2005-05-11T09:27:00.000+02:00

Not so long ago on a sunny morning, the remains of a Romanian soldier were flown back to his country. At first light a Romanian C-130 was on the ramp waiting. A company plus formation of American Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Air Force personnel stood waiting to pay their respects to this Romanian soldier who was part of the coalition forces. The soldier was killed when his vehicle hit a mine or IED that was emplaced by the Taliban or al Qaeda forces.

Then the Romanian battalion marched on to the ramp facing the American contingent, with a truck holding the casket of the soldier draped with the Romanian flag with the American flag at the foot of the coffin.

Music was played and it was a slow dredge then the Chaplin from the Romanian Army said a prayer in Romanian that sound like a Gregorian chant. A twenty one gun salute was given by the Romanian Battalion. After that a procession that was lead with a large orthodox cross, then a photo of the dead soldier was carried by two of his fellow soldiers, the leadership of the battalion, an honor guard carrying the casket, and last was his squad mates. As the casket was carried by all the Romanian and American soldiers showed respect to the fallen soldier by rendering a salute until the whole procession passed by and the casket was loaded on the C-130.

After that both armies left the ramp, went to parade rest, the cargo airplane started its engines then taxied down the runway and took off.

What was surprising that there were a few civilian contractors were also paying their respect to a fallen comrade. We are all the same to the Taliban- people who are helping to bring Afghanistan to the 21st century.

Does Islam improve Christianity? Read and make your own decision.

Stacking weapons while waiting for a pizza.

Quote: “It might develop into a JDAM party.”

Note: There are lots of great events and operations going on, but due to OPSEC, I will not be blogging about those.

Time, accessorize, ride and quote

2005-05-07T06:06:00.000+02:00

All military uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in Afghanistan. One of the weird things that about being deployed to Afghanistan is that the local time is four and half hours a head of GMT. Just like in London. So I get up a 1:00Z and eat breakfast by 2:00Z and the day rolls by. It takes a week or two to get used to, but I carry a cheat sheet with both local and Zulu time next to each other, so when I talk to Afghans I can convert their time zone to Zulu or GMT.

What holster should I accessorize with my pistol? I had an issue to deal with. What type of pistol holster would I use? One school of thought was to use a modern version of the old western gun slinger that is held into place hanging off the hip and strapped off the thigh. One disadvantage is that I would loose the use on one cargo pocket on my pants or when I ride in a helicopter or other vehicle it can be hard to pull out while sitting.

So what is my other choice is? Get one that hangs off my shoulder. That is better, but when worn with IBA or Individual Body Armor it can hard to access when needed. Also the straps can dig into your shoulders when not wearing IBA. This is one dilemma that I will have to experiment to solve.

One of the M-998's that that is around here.
Quote: Do you want to get PUC'ed?

Apology, image, feel and quote

2005-05-01T18:25:00.000+02:00

I am sorry not writing for the past week or two or three. It has been busy with a unit leaving and a new one coming in. We had to explain what is going on, how to improve the situation with a list of resources that are needed. Some times our suggestions were taken other times they were not.

Here is an image of the happiest group of soldiers in Afghanistan. They are going home.

One of the factors that give this place a frontier feel is the abundance of shipping containers or military connexes all over the place. They were filled with military equipment, but now they are used for different functions from temporary offices, platforms for satellite dishes or holding electrical generators. The most interesting thing that some of them have the logos of divisions, brigades or battalions who were past tenants. The mottos that are scribed on are sometimes funny.

Quote: "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself" -- John Stuart Mill

SecDef

2005-04-15T07:31:00.000+02:00

What do you do if your boss’s, boss’s, boss’s showed up during lunch time? I went to see what he was up to and it was the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visit to see the ground truth here in Kandahar. What ever you think of him, you got to admire his intestinal fortitude. How many corporate executives do you know have traveled half way around the world to speak to and answer questions from the floor workers in a war zone? Not many, I bet. Also another thing about SecDef Rumsfeld was that he had a pretty small staff with him compared to his corporate counterparts.

Attendance to his conference was voluntary and to get a seat in the Moral, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tent you had to show up an hour before. I was there 30 minutes and I was on the back benches. After that it was standing room only.

As he walked in and every soldier, marine, sailor and air force personnel got on their feet and gave him a standing ovation. He started by reenlisting 11 soldiers for more years of duty.

Then he gave us a speech on the progress that the US Military has done in Afghanistan. He said we have delivered the citizens of Afghanistan from the terror of the Taliban and gave them hope after years of Soviet occupation. He said that Afghanistan may not have the oil or water riches of Iraq, but the greatest resource that Afghanistan was its people. The Afghans never embraced the extreme Islamic beliefs and it shows that in three years after America came to liberate them that the Taliban is broken and will be totally defeated. There is no real suicide bomber problem in Afghanistan, because that concept is alien to the Afghan culture.

After those comments, he told of SFC Smith who brave acts was recognized with a Medal of Honor and what his wife said at the reception for her husband. It was inspiring.

A few of us was waiting for the Q and A section of his appearance, because they are never boring. Rumsfeld answered the questions with wit and honesty. When he could not answer a question from an infantry Private about the projected delivery date of the new XM-8 rifle he deferred to General Bouno to give an answer. How many times have you seen a CEO of a fortune 500 company be honest enough to say “I don’t know” and ask one of his experts to answer instead of putting the spin on it and looking stupid?

This went on for 15 minutes. The last question was a humdinger. The Corporal asked why his Father and Grandfather never seen any good news about Afghanistan in the media and what could SecDef Rumsfeld could do about it? Rumsfeld stood there, asked for the Corporal to repeat his question, and then quipped “do you think I control the media?” I busted out laughing with the rest of the audience. He said that all of us should keep emailing everybody home with our achievement here in Afghanistan and the American people has a built-in media filter the negative news that is persuasive through the dumbed down media that is built for the lowest common denominator.

After that he left the stage and posed for photos for 30 minutes. All ranks stood and waited patiently for their turn to be photographed with the SecDef. I was struck by how genially patient he was to stand will everybody for photos. His personal security detachment was slowly nudging him to his vehicle so he could fly out of KAF. After that it was back to our military duties.

Quote: There are worst things in life than death.

Update: Here is the official Transcript of the town hall meeting with the troops. Go ahead, read it yourself.

Lunch, news and quote.

2005-04-11T06:19:00.000+02:00

I used to complain about the army food years ago. Remember the good old green eggs and ham in a can from the c-rats? Skim the grease off the tuna? Doesn’t that bring back fond memories? This ain’t our daddy’s army now and it shows in the DFAC. One reason is that Kellogg, Brown and Root(KBR) has the contract for food now, there are no army cooks in the DFAC. Other day, I had veal and lasagna for lunch and lobster and crab legs for dinner. Think of very good or first class airline food. Here is an image of curry chicken (for our British allies) and cordon bleu that I had for lunch yesterday. I know it is not as good at the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), but what do you want when you are out in the sticks?

Also this post is to test out my ability to post images. Image shack will not load properly, so I am giving photbucket a try.

News for this week in Afghanistan.

Quote: I am just the mouth piece and he is the figure head.

flying around and quote

2005-04-07T06:19:00.000+02:00

I am sorry for not writing lately. I basically inherited a cluster f_k of a mess from my predecessor and I am now able to keep my head above the water to see what is going on.

One of the more interesting things I did recently was to fly around to get a feel of the situation and see the ground. A lot of the terrain in Afghanistan is mined and that is why I did not drive or walk it. The Soviets and Taliban used mines like we used toilet paper. That is why American soldiers are told not to throw candy into fields when children swarm around convoys, a kid may get a limb blown off while looking for candy in a field. So I flew around some areas that I thought that US forces might have to show more “love” to.

Before taking off the crew chief conducted a pre-flight brief and inspection: body armor, weapon, helmet, ear plugs, ect….Then when into detail on how to egress the bird if it had took hostile fire or auto-rotated. I auto-rotated once and it sucked. Basically auto-rotation is a controlled crash or landing with great velocity. It is better than any ride at Disney World. Then he asked me what we do if there was an engine fire while taxing. I told him that he would flip the fire suppression system on and I would get the f--k out quickly. That got a chuckle.

After baking in the bird while waiting our turn to turn to taxi, because transports were taking off or other helos were landing, we started to go down the runway to take off. One of the door gunners was fooling with his M-60 machine gun and then I hear over my headset that he dropped part of a belt of ammo on to the runway. Shit. Do you know what FOD is? FOD is Foreign Object Debris that can cause aircraft engine damage. It is one thing for an engine to suck a rock or pebble in to an engine, but a 7.62 bullet would ruin your day. So we started to hover around looking for ammo on the ground. That was fun and then I asked the pilot how long are we going to spend looking for bullets? After that question he called the tower explained what happened and requested a runway cleaner to vacuum the suspected area.

After that we flew around with our GPS, cameras and maps to get acquainted with our new playground.

Quote: I have no problem on who kills who.

Water, diference, and home

2005-04-03T05:59:00.000+02:00

Bottle water is one of the most important items here. Without it, life would suck. When you are brushing your teeth you can not rinse your tooth brush or mouth with the water that comes out of the tap or you risk getting sick or worse. But I was advised if I drink too much mineral water I could develop kidney stones, so to avoid that discomfort, I should drink the near or non-alcoholic beer that is sold in the PX. Supposedly this will help the kidneys move the mineral build up.

The real difference between Europe and America: http://www.opinion.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/02/23/do2302.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2005/02/23/ixopinion.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/afghanistan/kandahar_afld.htm
This will be home for me

Engagement, source, toilet, strategy and quote

2005-04-02T15:12:00.000+02:00

I just met an old colleague at the DFAC and when I showed up he was talking about an engagement he was in. It sounded intense and I was thinking he was lucky to make it out alive until he said that he save the game and went to a brief. After that I asked what the hell the talking about until he told me about playing a game on his personal computer and they are hooked up to a wireless LAN in the tents. Many troops play video games to relax. Over at the Moral, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tent soldiers can borrow an X-box and video games to hook up to a TV. Then it is time to blast away. May be at the end of this deployment I will be able to hold my own in HALO 2.

Here is a great source of information on Afghansitan: http://www.figureconcord.com/ublog/archives/cat_afghan_liberty.html

Some more proof that the Taliban is going down the toilet. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1302625,000500020005.htm

The article outlines the strategy (http://tigerhawk.blogspot.com/2005/03/al-qaedas-grand-strategy.html) of al Queda. It is pretty good since they are thinking real long term, but we are too, at least the military is. Are you? It is your children’s future that AQ wants.

Quote: you are special just like everyone else.

Note: when Blogger's page for inputting new post loads, it is only a partial load and the buttons to embed hyper links does not load. That is why I am putting the URLs in the post so you can cut and paste. Hey, Blogger, why not a text only page?

Gym

2005-04-01T06:32:00.000+02:00

I lift and work out every morning when possible and the gym here at KAF it is one of the most testosterone and macho gym in the world. Where in the United States would put your machine gun or rifle in a storage rack when entering? That is just a safety rule for the gym. Most people who lift or run in the gym wear the Army Physical Fitness Uniform or the black shorts with the unit t-shirt. All the shirts have units crest with mottos like “aces of death”, “killer engineers”, or “death dealers.” While lifting today the music was from late ‘90s early 00’s heavy metal of Godsmack or Ramstien and on the big screen the TV was showing Russell Crow in “Gladiator.” Most people stopped when Russell killed an opponent by hacking his head off with two swords. You know the scene. A couple of soldiers said “cool” or that the way to kill some one. Then it was back to lifting. I think Arnold S. would approve.

Feels like the wild, wild west and shitters.

2005-03-31T06:35:00.000+02:00

Check out Nothing to see here, move along . . .at http://sfalphageek.blogspot.com/ (Blogger is not loading properly) about life here in Afghanistan. He was here and writes great and in-depth essays. Sometimes I am too busy to write. This is great advice: http://sfalphageek.blogspot.com/2005/03/what-i-learned-from-life-in-combat.html. I would make permalinks but blogger.com is not loading properly. They should make a text only dashboard for those who dream of broadband internet access.

One of the first impressions that struck me when I when I arrived here that I was transported back in time with the majority of the inhabitants of Kandahar Air Field (KAF) wear Desert Camoflaugue Uniform (DCU) of the US Army or Colitilation forces, with the exception of civilians or Third Country Nationals (TCNs) who are employed by the Colilation or Afghan or Local Nationals (LNs) who are also employed as interpreters, liaison officials or labors who are involved with the construction of KAF.

All the roads on KAF are dirt roads that are dusty when dry, but turn to mud soup when it rains. It did not rain much in Afghanistan, maybe two to three inches a year, but this year there has been record amount of rain and the locals attribute this to Allah being pleased with the American and Afghans working well together while the seven year drought was blamed on the Taliban.

One factor that gives KAF that Wild, Wild West ambiance is that almost everybody is armed. All soldiers carry a pistol, rifle or squad automatic weapon (SAW). A soldier asked me to hold his SAW while digging through his pockets to find enough change to pay for his cappuccino. This place would be a gun control advocate nightmare, but I feel safe around here. There is no real crime here. No muggings, assaults, robberies or other serious crimes. Everybody is friendly, respectful and courteous. Is it because military personnel, TCNs and HNs are more virtuous and vetted or with everybody packing heats, that keeps the hooligans in line? I go will with the first assumption.

Along with the dirt roads, there are no curbs, or a few street lights. There a few street signs with the names of American army division that have been to KAF and a couple of stop signs. Most of the soldiers and civilians sleep in force provider tents that are equipped with heaters and air conditioning. There is more modern housing that is made out of metal that is on concrete pads in the plans.

Looking for porcelain shitters is a big thing for new comers. There a not many buildings with indoor plumbing so there are many porta-potties all over the place. Next to the tents there shipping containers that are converted to showers with toilets. Then there a few big shipping containers that have real toilets that flush. So a cherry will make a mental map that marks the grid of the containers with the real toilets. When one is moving around KAF, one will always be mindful of there location of the toilets and their personal needs, so there will be no discomfort or accidents.

Hello from KAF

2005-03-30T09:04:00.001+02:00

Sorry for not posting anything for the past few weeks. I have been traveling for a few days. I was at Ganci AB,in Manas, Kyrgyzstan while travleing to Afghanistan. Time has blurred by as I sat at the the Departure Processing Center in K-town then over to Rhein Main AFB (news) and waited for a flight out. While waiting, the USO provide coffee, snacks and had a few big screen movies playing. Thanks to the USO! Then I hopped on a MD-111 owned by World Airways. It was a good flight and everybody had a nice seat to stretch out on instead of being crammed on a C-17. World Airways provided good food and non-stop videos, but most of us slept. Before landing we flew over the Ural Mountains and they are spectacular. At night there was a city that was lit up like a spider web floating in a black void with electric yellow string that must have been street lights. It was pretty. Cargo had priority over passengers, so we were waiting a day for a flight to A-stan.

I just went through the RIP/TOA phase of the deployment and it was dicked up. My predecessor was supposed to show me how he did his job for two week. Well I met him for 60 seconds while he was heading to the flight line to hop on his flight to America. Now I am probing the hard drive of his computer, driving around with a map and GPS, doing the grip and grin and briefings.

If the post sounds grammatically wrong, I am just doing 12 hours days with PT or going out of the wire. Fun shit. Don’t be a nit picker.

Salutations, St. Pats, Demobilize, MVACIS, links

2005-03-18T19:43:00.000+01:00

Auf Wiedersehen Kaiserslautern. Salam, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Yesterday I went out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a pint at the local Irish cultural center: Thirsty Nellies. What started with one pint ended up with five to six pints and equal amounts of Irish whiskey. Oh well, thank God that we could sleep in and just drag our rucks and duffle bags to the barracks this morning.

Now we are watching DVDs waiting to catch our flight out.

It looks like most of the fighters in Afghanistan are hanging their weapons up and going to live peaceful lives. This will make it easier to find al Queada and the Taliban, since the only heavy weapons with be in the Afghan National Army.

Here is another piece of equipment that I might use: MVACIS.

If you link you me, I feel out of common courtesy to link back, so here is somebody new: The Primary Main Objective...

Here are more links that are related to Afghanistan.

Combine Force Command – Afghanistan, US Forces news that you never will see in the media.
Xavier An Afghanistan Vacation (Deployment)
A National Guard Exprence
Special Forces Alpha Geek

Blogs or web sites by Afghans
Waheed
Afghan Pundit Blog
The American Institute of Afghanistan Studies
Afghan Women's Writing
Afghanistan Digital Library (NYU)
Association for the Protection of Afghan Archaeology
Afghan Communicator
Lemar Aftaab
Farda Magazine
Afghan Music in the North
Afghanistan Justice Project
Afgha.com
Eurasia.net Afghanistan
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Sanjar
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit
Internews Afghanistan
I will move these links to the left in a week or two.
Thanks Mike and Tink for the help!

Test Drive, RoE, reading, guns and show

2005-03-17T09:45:00.000+01:00

Blogger must have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day early because I could not log in. Oh well.

I took a test drive of a Smart fourtwo car yesterday and it was a pretty good car to go around the city in. I took it on the A-6 autobahn and it fell ok up to 100kph, but at 120kph, it felt a little unstable. I like the six speed automatic transmission with the flippers next to the steering wheel like formula one race cars. It had air conditioning, AF-FM-CD sound system and it could hold a few cold cases of beer in the rear hatch. This car would sell like hot cakes in California or Florida. With gas prices rising, it has 800 cc diesel engine that sips fuel.

I would post photos of the car BUT, I went to the PX to get a USB cable to hook up my Panasonic Lumix digital camera and the cable I purchases does not fit. It seems that the camera needs a custom proprietary cable that you can only buy from Panasonic. That sucks big time!

If you rent a car, avoid Budget. They say I owe them USD 630.26 for a scratch that I am not responsible on a car that I rented from them back in September last year and now they are getting around to billing me? No way Jose.

Right now everybody is waiting for the call forward so we can get on the purple ramp. Lots of soldiers are repacking their rucks and duffle bag, since it is now 70 degrees in Afghanistan. Also we got to carry a few extra Meal Ready to Eat (MREs), two cans of Permethrin to bug proof our uniforms, four dip kits of Permethrin, also for our uniforms, two bottles of sunscreen and two more tubes of bug juice.

One class we had today was on Rules of Engagement (ROE). A card was given that outlines the ROE. Key words were given: Necessary and Proportional
We went over the Four “S’s”:
Shout- Vernal warnings in Dari,Farsi,Urdu and Arabic
Show- your weapon
Shove- use non lethal force
Shoot-to kill (on scene commander may authorize)
Civilians are not targets. One soldier asked how can you tell the difference between al Qaeda and a civilian? Look for a weapon and body language. Most civilians get out of Dodge when the bullets fly.

Then it told how treat Persons under Control (PUC), convoy operations and scenarios. They were just common sense and we will go over them in route to Afghanistan. The scenarios had situations and response for the most commonly encountered issues that troops in the past have encounter.

This is one list of best writing of a blog and the essential library to go with it. It will take many hours to fully digest these two lists, but it will help you understand what is going on in the world. You might not agree with it, but at least you will be more aware of what is going on in the back ground.

Here is a blog dedicated to the M-16 family and what may come after it. It is serious gun talk like this.

The show has finally started. The big man is in country and I will be there with him soon.

Today, long haul, SPIDERS, THANKS and UN duty.

2005-03-15T20:56:00.000+01:00

Today was pretty good. First the sun came out for a few hours. It was the first time in a few weeks since I seen it and the wind was not blowing so walking around was pleasant. Second, our Commander was promoted to full bird Colonel. He is a great guy, who gives us a mission and then lets us execute. No micro-managing on his side of the fence. Then he tells the unit that he buying around at the local pizza/beer haus. So we are all having a good time playing pool, loading the jukebox full of Euros for American hip hop and rock and roll, while pizza is being consumed in massive qualities. Then he asks “what time is first formation?” We all tell him zero eight and he asks another question “what are we doing that is so important?” A few soldiers shrug their shoulders others said waiting for the call forward so we can go to the airfield; then he said “first formation at 10:00. Now exercise the alert roster and see if it works.” There will be a few people who wished they left their cell phones on tonight.

I have written that we will be in Afghanistan for the long haul in the past. Well here is the proof- the US is building permanent housing for the military at Bagram Airfield. When we were in Bosnia and Kosovo at the quarters were in Force Provider (more details here.) tents on non-permanent conexes, but when you pour cement for building foundations-we will be in Afghanistan for a long time. I bet a tour of duty in Afghanistan will be an austere version of the 1960’s tour in South Korea. Hell, there is a Burger King, an Italian pizzeria, two coffee shops and a Thai restaurant are there right now with a Popeyes, Dairy Queen and Orange Julius are scheduled to open in the next few months. Is this the influence of the Air Force?

SPIDERS is one of the new of the new high tech tools that the army is putting to use in Afghanistan.

I like to hello to all the new visitors and thanks to the Mudville Gazette for highlighting this blog! Have a fine Army day!

I think Schadenfrude has figured out why so many soldiers are praying for the US to be involved in an UN lead force to verify the Syrian pullout.

Tonight, environment, rugs, comments and class

2005-03-14T16:42:00.000+01:00

Tonight we are having dinner/party for the troops and their families. It is one way for soldiers who live locally to say good bye to their family. I did this on New Years day, so I will just kick back, be polite, and do the grip and grin. Almost the entire unit wants to leave today and get the show on the road. Waiting around for the flight out of here and being bored is a morale killer. Tomorrow I get to see the doctor and he or she will examine where I received the smallpox vaccination shot. Then it is a team brief on updates from Afghanistan and hit the gym.

Last night I talked to my wife and two daughters on my cell or mobile phone as the British would call it. I was in a class room that had a VCR tape player and I just watched a tape with my two daughters playing with their toys, reading a book, crawling on the kitchen floor, going to dance class and other activities that a three year old and 10 month old would do while I talking to them on my phone. It was kind of surrealistic.

Today the sun came out and I walked around. It was nice outside not to windy and the temperature was about the mid 40s. It is time to go out and run.

Now I can save the environment and the world all at same time by driving this. I wonder how it would hold up when it is up-armored.

I might buy one of these war rugs for my hooch.

Read about our A-hole Swedish friend's comments about soldiers helping out. I just crossed Sweden off my list of countires to visit. Don’t spend you hard earned dollars as a tourist there.

This is one more reason that the Red Sox is the classiest team in baseball.

Classes, posts, coverage, writing, Finns, golf and quote

2005-03-13T15:31:00.000+01:00

I just received my transcripts from my undergraduate days, since on my spare time I might teach a class or two to soldiers. I did not graduate with honors, more like with a diploma, but I could teach the basics of mathematics or other humanities and sciences. I tell the troops they need to be enrolled in a correspondence course or be teaching so they will keep busy. Idle minds are the play ground of the devil as old saying goes and I believe it. I don’t want any disciplinary problems, therefore teaching or taking a class is a good way to keep busy and not get depressed over missing your family. Also I tell the enlisted taking a class is a great way of finding out what interest you and may make you a more well-rounded person or put more money on the table when you become a civilian. Last, classes can be converted into promotion points.

If you don’t see any post for a few days continuously, don’t worry I am in transit to the Afghan theater of operations. I will be learning how to sleep on hanger floors.

Here is the Stars and Stripes coverage of the unit’s casing ceremony.

Great writing from Iraq from a soldier.

Guess who is next to send more troops to Afghanistan? The Finns! Maybe they will construct a sauna and bring some Lapin Kulta.

Does this mean that Afghanistan is on the road to being a modern country? The Kabul Golf Club just opened for the second season. Will Tiger Woods be playing there soon?

Quote: His decision is firm as jello.

Blogging, help, miss a call, Dutch and minger

2005-03-12T17:31:00.000+01:00

Most of the time I try to write in the style of HS Thompson or Henry Rollins or as in parochial school it was described with distain as the extemporaneous or “stream of consciousness” writing mode. One advantage or disadvantage (depends on your values) that I have, is that I am a wimp when it comes to my consumption level of alcohol and the lack of mind altering chemical-hey I am in the Army and I get piss tested.

Most of the time I type ideas on to a MS word document that I store my USB stick and on my computer as a back up. Sometimes I access the internet at libraries or on unused computers, then I plug in my USB stick, pull up my “to blog” file and I am in business. Most computers today have MS word on it so MS word underlines misspelled words and some or the most grievous grammatical errors, this helps to make this blog a bit more readable. Then it time to access the internet, access blogger.com, log in and post.

I just received from my wife the book, The elements of style and the library on post gave away copies of the Oxford Essential Guide to Writing . I will start reading them as soon I finish Harry Turtledove’s Return Engagement (Settling Accounts Trilogy, Book 1). This should help the quality of the posts and make this blog easier to read.

I am trying to find blogs from Afghanistan and troops who serve there, but they are hard to find. If you know any, please post their URL to the comments section. Thanks!

Sometimes it is good to miss a call on your mobile or cell phone

Guess who is next with more troops? The Dutch. These troops will join the British SAS, Norweigan Commandos, French and US SF. I think this is the result of these troops.

This is totally unrelated to anything on this blog except that it is funny in a warped and Irish way. At least you will be able to curse and use the word “minger” properly. It is not for children.

Casing ceremony, friends, Bulgarians, Clint and quote

2005-03-11T23:07:00.000+01:00

Our unit participated in a casing ceremony (similar ceremony). Basically our commander rolled up the unit guidon and put its cover on. The guidon will be unfurled when we arrive in Afghanistan soon. It was a good and moving ceremony, since some troop’s family showed up to say good bye. At the end we said the soldiers creed and sang the Army song. Note the Army song was originally the Field Artillery or Caisson Song.

Also today on of the lieutenants was promoted to the rank of captain. It was good that he was promoted, because he is a squared away trooper who rose through the ranks from private. Also he paid for everybody’s meal at dinner. I was just expecting a free beer, but hey I will take some jager schnitzel.

Now it time to live out of a duffle bag, ruck sack and wait to catch a flight on one of the ~~Army Airlines, I mean US Army Air Corps~~ US Air Force Air Mobility Command’s high speed transports.

Here are some videos on our kind, friendly, ever so merciful pals: al Qaeda. Watch and see what they are up to. Do you think we are going have to grease a few more of them?

Now the Bulgarians want to send more troops the party. This is almost too much to understand.

This should be good, since Clint is running the show.

Quote: We are not doing rocket science, we are just walking the dog.

SRP, bs'ing, example

2005-03-09T10:14:00.000+01:00

Sorry for not posting yesterday. I had an ass kicking headache last night that I think was the result of all the shots I received during the day.

I went through a SRP or walked through the gymnasium that had tables of people who looked at my service files or a big folder with my medical and personnel records. I just worked my way down the row of tables that subject matter experts that were sitting at. After I filled out all the paperwork and I did what they required, they checked off the “go” box, on a sheet that had to be completed on the top of my records, dated it and put their initials next to the box that they just checked.

At the medical stations, I received more inoculations for HEP B and smallpox. I had to anwser two pages of questions and medical history, then sit in line to be interviewed by a doctor. Two of the questions were: “Did you ever have a rash or eczema?” and “Is any body who you live with is pregnant or have an auto immune disorder?” No and no. Then I took off my DCU jacket, sat in line waiting for 15 jabs of smallpox inoculations.

It took me thirty minutes to have my pay records reviewed. I sat down with the Judge Advocate, reviewed my will and power of attorney. The JAG said I was brave to give my wife unlimited power of attorney, he said that some soldiers were burned by spouses in the past. I told him I trust my wife and it was the right thing to do. He just shook his head while stamping off my paper work and then said “next.”

I read the letters off the eighth line of an eye chart to prove that I am not blind and told the Specialist that I do not wear any glasses. I was told that I am good to go at that station.

The medical records review was a bit of a cluster f---. I was told that I had to get another hearing test, even though it was annotated in my records that I had one last November, but the test results were not in my packet. So I walked over to the clinic and waited in line to take two tests because the computer that ran the hearing test was on the fritz.

I had another HIV test. That is one test I will happily fail.

I had a brief on the malaria medicine that I will have to take. The doctor had a military sense of humor and said the medicine that we are receiving was picked on the factors of cost, ease of use and lack of side effect in that order. Rumor said that we would have “intense” dreams and the behavior of a few troops might act a little “different.” I picked up six month supply and the army will mail me another six month while I am down range. Yeah right, I will wait and see.

After four hours of doing the hurry up and wait, I took my medical and personnel folders to a table with a Department of Army civilian sitting at it. He just looked at the sheet with all the checks, stamps, dates and initials. Then he went through each folder, sometimes rearranging papers to put them in the correct sequence. After that he stamped my sheet with a big “GO” at the bottom, handed my folder to me, pointed and said “give your folders to your personnel section over there. You are good to go for deployment. Be safe and have fun.”

More press headlines:
From the Kansas City Star: Afghan poppies a menace: Afghanistan is unable to contain opium poppy production and is on the verge of becoming a narcotics state, a presidential report said Friday……

Or

The Pak Tribune: Afghanistan officials report major decline of poppy crop
Drugs, weapons seized in Afghanistan

Who is bs’ing? Or is this the press taking liberty with the truth? You decide.

Not all in the military are dummies contrary to the stereotypes in the press. Here is example from the Marines.

Go west but stop before you go into Iran.

Quote: No good deed goes unpunished.

R&R, Italy, events, good news and quote

2005-03-07T21:41:00.000+01:00

I had a relaxing weekend at a fellow soldier’s house. He and his wife were gracious hosts and showed me around Wiesbaden. Also we played in a poker match, ate some good German food at a brauhaust, walked around the local wine country and relaxed. It was nice to take it easy.

Also I drove the BMW 5 series on the autobahn. It felt good to cruise at 160 Kph or 100mph. The one knob that controlled the navigation, stereo, and other electronic functions did not work for me, it felt like a bad computer mouse. My friend’s wife, who speaks fluent German, could not figure out how to change the language to English on the car computer. That is bad, because she works in the auto industry. It was a nice car, but it cost 54k in the US. Would I spend that much money on that car, I highly doubt it.

Will the Italians still keep their promise since it looks like their secret service screwed up? I bet the press will have a field day.

Do you want to know happened in Afghanistan in a chronological order with short descriptions? Here it is.

Also more good news from Afghanistan. This will never make the newspapers or CNN.

Quote: It is not the lack of intelligence, it is the abundance of stupidity.

Rental car, GQ, Stykers, base, MP and quote

2005-03-05T15:04:00.000+01:00

I will be gone for a day or two, so blogging will be light. I was going to rent a Smart fourtwo car, or as soldiers refer to them as the mobile door stop, but Avis ran out, so I broke down and rented a BMW 530. The agony is overwhelming. One of the interesting safety stickers in the car is that the max speed on the autobahn during winter is 210 kph or 130 mph. The speed odometer is maxed out at 260 kph or 160 mph. Ok I can deal with that.

Two interesting thoughts came to mind when I was reading this and looking the image of chief of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards Yahya Rahim Safavi. First they must be nervous when making these claims. I think that the claims are for internal consumption and a self confidence building pep rally speech. Also there is an old military axiom: he who with the uglier looking uniform will win. Compared to US military forces, this guy is totally GQ.

This looks like a marriage made in heaven, A Ranger battalion and some Stykers. Now we will have some good light infantry with the speed and mobility of a battle proven platform in Afghanistan. More here. This is the rational for this change.

This essay puts what is going on in the world in an easy to read format. It might be a little base for some, but it is blunt and puts its points out in a logical fashion.

Here is a blog by a MP who is new to Iraq. He will have his hands full. God speed.

Quote: Let’s do some backward planning forward.

Music, commandos, news, DD and quote

2005-03-04T21:40:00.000+01:00

This has been going around the unit lately. It seems the Germans are rubbing off on American troops with more than their beers. It is interesting that you can not go by the stereotypes of soldiers and presume that they listen to a certain type of music. Supertramp’s Breakfast in America is popular with many troops. It cuts across many racial and cultural boundaries, surprisingly. I even heard a rap version of one of their tunes. Some of the contemporary urban listeners like the Deftones. One of the Latin troops plays Beethoven on Deutsche Welle Radio during work hours. He says it is relaxing. Even contemporary Christian music, in all its forms, is listened to in this unit. The unit’s musical tastes are surprising and diverse like its members.

If you think military operations are just an EU (ISAF) and American effort, guess again:

March 4, 2005: Without much publicity at all, several Gulf States (Oman, Emirates, Bahrain, etc.) have sent some of their SOF (Special Operations Forces; commandoes) to Afghanistan to work with coalition forces. For several years, between 100-200 of these troops have been on duty there, quietly rotating contingents in and out. Al Qaeda and the Taliban know about it, as does the Afghan government. The Islamic radicals have not publicized this involvement, perhaps feeling that it would hurt them more, to publicize that Arab soldiers are fighting them, than to make a fuss about Arab soldiers fighting alongside infidels (non-Moslems.) Many of these Arab operators were trained by American and British commandoes and are considered very good. In their home countries, they are used to hunt down local terrorists, which is one reason you don’t find many Islamic terrorists in the Gulf States. The Arab commandoes know how to work the tribal and family angles to get information without violence. American Special Forces specialize in teaching this approach, which is considered a traditional method of dealing with violent radicals in Arab countries. The Arab commandoes are probably also used to interrogate Arab Islamic radicals captured in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Every month, a few more of these guys are picked up, and someone from their home country could get something out of them more quickly.

This one more reason Afghanistan is moving into the 21st century instead falling back into the 14th century via that horrible quagmire that was not sanctioned by the UN.
From Strategy page.

Afghan Daily is a pretty good new site with articles in Englsh for those who don't read dari.

This is one part of America that I miss. I hope DD does not go yuppie, I like the blue collar aspect of it. A large regular and Boston crème to go-oh man I miss part of America.

Quote: Is this sufficiently vague for you?

Familiarization, long hall, JAG, views and quote

2005-03-03T20:35:00.000+01:00

This morning we had a few classes to familiarize the soldiers of the collation armies that are in Afghanistan. We literally had the fifteen minute overview starting with a description of flag of the each country. You might laugh, but do you know the difference between flags of the FYROM, Slovenia, Croatia, or Slovakia? All those countries are in Afghanistan.

Then it was photos of uniforms, description of small arms, rank structure, vehicles and capabilities of each military force. Thank goodness for Google! Many troops have worked with these countries in past during deployments with KFOR, SFOR and other exercises for the Partnership for Peace Program. The Turks and Greeks have good reputations. A few war stories came out and comparison about each others equipment was heard. Do you know that Porsche designed the Wiesle?

It looks like we will be in Afghanistan for the long hall. Senator McCain is in Afghanistan getting the ground truth. Even the Turks see this.

Here is the JAG in Iraq.

Here is the Army’s view of events in Afghanistan.

Quote: Indecision is the key to flexibility.

Cleaning, news, draft and Czechs

2005-03-02T23:54:00.000+01:00

I used to joke when I was going through basic training that if I got kicked out of the Army, could be a janitor, since I moped and waxed floors; and also shined the pipes of the toilet in the latrine. Now most of the unit is cleaning out their desks, lockers and rooms since we will be leaving soon. I am packing my ruck sack and duffle bag to ensure that everything will fit in. If not I have one last chance to fill part of a foot locker that will go in an ISU-90. Right now it looks like I will put a box filled a few books that I plan to read while I am down range and a small piece of carpet, so when I crawl out of my sleeping bag and off my cot I will not have to step on cold cement, dirt or plywood.

These are the latest reports on Afghanistan in short doses.

This article makes a compelling argument for a modified draft. Give it a read, who ever is the next president, will be looking at one of the options. The Army at its present size can only do so much and cover a limited amount of ground. It looks like the Air Force and Navy will be downsizing.

First it was the Norwegians, next was the Canadians. Now it is the Czechs. I wonder if they will bring their beer tents. They are not covered with general order number one, lucky dogs.

DVDs, classes, internet, Canada and quote

2005-03-01T18:59:00.000+01:00

I just received a portable DVD player from my brother! Yeah! Also he sent the parts four, five and six of the Star Wars series. The other DVD he sent was Led Zeppelin’s the Song Remains the Same. It is a good concert video from a time when musicianship and talent weighed more than the Hollywood productions of today with lip synching marionettes. Lip synching Robert Plant, that is an oxymoron. More here. I think I might set up an account with Amazon to purchase some CDs or DVDs that are not stocked at the PX. Any suggestions?

Today we had classes on the JSIVA and how to make a barrier with triple concertina wire. Soon I will be walking the wire and making sure it is up to standard.

Here is the GWOT on the internet front from one side. I wonder what the NSA thinks of this.

I have a few cheat sheets with phrases in Pahut and Dari, is there one for Canadian English, eh? Now the Canada is going to send more troops. I wonder if they will be shooters, as in the past or PRTs.

Quote for the day: this coffee taste like ass.

ipod, truth locals and troops

2005-02-28T12:23:00.000+01:00

I was going to get an ipod, but I remembered that I had to beware of the world around me. To notice that there are no children or pets playing on the street, or there are no animals or insect noises at night, to hear the sounds of nature and human race mix. For many while listening on an ipod, they are oblivious to the world. Listeners can not pick up on the vibe of the street, since they are engrossed with their world of music. Those are the signs of possible danger and a threat to fellow soldiers. One can escape the world by plugging into their ipod and not notice what is going on during a convoy, or hear incoming while walking back from the shower or DFAC, but that can be dangerous. That is one reason I will not get an ipod: I want to return home alive.

Check out the following articles on the same subject of the increasing size of the Afghan National Army. See their bias or slant:
Al jazerera: US pushes Afghans' frontline training
Arutz Sheva: Afghani Army Growing and Preparing To Fight Taliban
The Guardian: Afghan Army Increases to 20,000 Troops
Boston Herald: Afghan army reaches 20,000
WBOC-TV: U-S military braced for increased Taliban violence as winter ebbs

Is this just serving what the customer wants, reporting only the truth, or what the publishers think what the truth should be?

It looks like the locals are sick of the war and are telling Coalition Forces where caches of weapons are at. After 25 years of war, it looks that everyday people want to get back to living their lives without weapons all over the place.

I wonder if this means that there will be no American troops in Europe in 20 years from now.

Weather, Falluja and Norway

2005-02-27T14:02:00.000+01:00

It is cold, snowing, raining and windy, so I will be in the gym in a few minutes then do an early dinner at DFAC. After that I will try to get a head of some paper work. If it warms up tomorrow I will journey to Mainz to see some Roman ruins.

Do you want to see how the soldiers of the US Army really took Falluja down? MTV or BET could not put together this video. This is what we call the ground truth. Not the BS on the TV. This is the real deal. Be warned it is big, so I hope you have a high speed internet access. This is where you can get it. The sound track is on some soldier's ipods in this unit.

It looks like the Norwegians like us, so much they want to join our party! More the merrier. This is interesting that Norway, a European country, is not putting these forces into ISAF, but under US command. This shows that Norway is sending the right troops for the mission. Their mission is not the win the hearts and minds, but more of the put-a-bullet-in-the-head-of-the-target or officially know as direct action. (more here)

1FCK, ISAF and humor

2005-02-26T19:52:00.000+01:00

Today I went to a football or soccer game between 1FCK and Wolfsburg. It was an ok game with the score of 0-0. I purchased a scarf with the 1FCK logo on it; a few locals walked up to me after the game and asked me the score of the game. I answered in my oh-so fluent Deutsch with the score. Maybe I fooled a few with my native accent. The game was all right, but it was fun to watch the real rabid fans at the ends of the pitch bang their drums, wave their team flags and scream for the whole game. There were lots of security and polizei around. If you saw the amounts of beer that was flowing at the beer tents before the game outside the stadium and at half time you would have thought there would be a riot, but every body was well behaved, except for the kid who sat behind me and taught me how to curse at the referee.

Here is some good analysis of the expanding role of ISAF in Afghanistan. It is interesting that it does not mention that the conditions that some countries attach to their aid that makes it hard for the Afghani government to implement. Also I am surprised that the Spanish are getting back in to the game. Guess who is running the EU based ISAF? The Turks are known to be aggressive fighters and after the bombing in Istanbul, there will be no love lost between the Turks and al Qeuada. This will be interesting.

SRT humor.

Commanders time, artillery, briefings

2005-02-25T20:31:00.000+01:00

My Commanding Officer did something pretty cool today. He told us; if you are finished with your work go home. Also he made Monday, commanders time or more commonly known as a day off. For the troops who live in Germany or other countries near by this is great. It is more time off to be with your family. I am kind of jealous, but I don’t fault them, I would be screaming down the autobahn to my family if they lived near by. For us who were mobilized from America we are just hanging around the barracks. Hitting the gym and running a few miles will be on the agenda. I might head into town and go find a museum or walk around the city. Maybe on Monday I will take the train to Mainz to see some old Roman ruins.

Here is a web page of artillery men in Afghanistan. It is professionally done and had great text and images.

We will be starting briefs on the foreign militaries that we will work with. One purpose is familiarizing troops with the uniforms, rank structure, insignia and customs of our allies that are in Afghanistan. Also it will help alleviate the chance of international incidents. I don’t want a troop to mistake a Turk for a Greek. With the expanding ISAF presence in Afghanistan the briefs will be more important for the troops.

Coffee, newsletter, images and mistakes

2005-02-24T18:05:00.000+01:00

Every morning I have a couple cups of coffee. In the mess hall during breakfast I make an army field expedient latté mocha: a mug of coffee and chocolate milk. When I say I have one or two “cups of coffee” that is an understatement, since I bought a big mug with the lid that automatically seals up at AAFES. The mugs are pretty big. They are great since you can carry a mug of coffee and not spill it while driving in a humvee or flying in a helicopter. One time a troop was asked how he like his coffee and he answered “I like my coffee like my woman: hot, tanned and sweet.”

This is the US military newsletter for the troops in Afghanistan. It is a little different from the New York Times. Check out page nine on the effectiveness of SAPI plates.

These photos will never make in the press. No blood or guts, just soldiers helping the locals. Also these soldiers will be going home soon, because my unit will be replacing them. I hope they have some fun in the sun for me.

Is this how the Air Force deals with mistakes? via Schanenfreude

Dilemma, profile and movies

2005-02-23T20:09:00.000+01:00

One of the big dilemmas a soldier has to face is what to bring when traveling down range. There is a packing list that is put out by higher headquarters that has the usual items: sleeping bag, air mattress, tactical (helmet, IBA, load bearing vest….) equipment, toiletries, ect.. but the bottom line is you can bring all you want but the weigh can not exceed 400 pounds. Here is the kicker: the 400 pounds includes the soldiers’ body weight. If the soldier is a big guy that weighs 200 pounds, he will have to pack all the tactical gear, weapon and three days worth of rations, into a ruck sack and duffle bag. That means he might be able to stuff a paperback novel for a personal item into the cargo pocket of his pants. On the other hand one of the smaller and lighter troops said that he would carry extra personal items of others for a small fee or 10 dollars per pound. Capitalism lives in the enlisted ranks.

Here is a psychiatrist who profiled the enemy. The stereotype that is propagated in the media is inaccurate. This is vital reading so we can understand and defeat our enemies.

Hollywood should read this, so I will not be laughing at the movies too much. Most movies with a military theme I find are funny, because of all the inaccuracies with uniforms, hair cuts and the way the military is portrayed.

Kobenhavn, classes and Afghan voice

2005-02-22T20:15:00.000+01:00

I had a great time in Kobenhavn. My hosts were fun and informative and taught me a little bit about life in Denmark. If you are into bicycles, move to Kobenhavn. It is a bike friendly town and each street has a bicycle lane.

If you are going to eat out bring lots of Danish Kroners. We ate dinner at Amokka, a café and it was good, but expensive. I bought dinner for three adults and one child and it totaled 1042 Danish Kroners or 185 USD or 162 Euros. We did not go crazy, but 25% was sales tax. Now I understand why lots of people eat over at friend’s house, drinks lots of beer or wine, and then go out.

It is nice to go to a city that is pedestrian friendly and it shows in Kobenhavn. Also I saw the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace. It was pretty impressive and the band was good.

There is retail district that has a nice pedestrian street with good stores along and at the end of it has the Round Tower. Go walk the tower to the top to get a good view of the city!

Over all I had a great time. I will post images once I get my camera in the mail since I left it back in Denmark.

Today we were going to have a PT test, but there is snow all over the place, so maybe next week.

The rest of the day was classes on field craft such a calling in a nine line medevac request.

Afghan voice is a web site that I found that has a around up of what is going on in Afghanistan.

Kobenhavn, winning, CH-47 and RIP.

2005-02-21T20:33:00.000+01:00

I am back from Kobenhavn, Danmark. More Later.

Guess who says we are winning in Iraq? Senator Hillary Clinton. Ladies are usually right.

Do you want to know how I will get around in Afghanistan? A CH-47 or more commonly known as a Chinook and read this for some insight of the pilots and crews of the Chinooks.

Sh$%hook drivers still have that soldier sense of humor:

They — like all deployed soldiers — feel overworked and under-loved. Soldiers and supplies come on; soldiers and supplies go off. Crews fly around the clock.
For many, this is their second Afghan rotation, which will probably be extended.
“‘Go first. Stay longer. Come back last.’ That’s this company in a nutshell,” Gustin said.
Crew dogs fly every day. “I fly 30 days a month,” Hammond said. “We need more crew dogs,” MacCauley says, for once totally serious. “That’s all there is to it.”
Helicopters leak. Helicopters break. The crews’ motto is “if it ain’t leakin’, it ain’t flyin’.”
“They’re 50 years old,” Brunet said of the Chinooks, shrugging. “Of course they break.”

HST. RIP. A great American writer. Read Hells Angels. It will be a classic.

Soul food, traveling and the new Governor

2005-02-18T10:48:00.000+01:00

Back on the 6th of January I wrote about soul food Thursday. Here is an image of some ribs, corn, greens, yams, rice, salad, pecan pie and milk from this weeks serving. The tray was empty of food when I was done. The food here is pretty good.

I will be heading to Copenhagen, Denmark this weekend to meet some of my wife’s family. We are on the downward slope to the ready ramp, soon I will be marching on to the big iron bird that will take me down range. Many troops who live locally or in Europe are going to see their family this weekend. I am just playing tourist.

This should drive al Qaeda crazy. The President Karzai just appointed the first female governor. Would this have happened if the US just threw some cruise missiles instead of invading after 9/11? Now the US Army is now helping Afghanistan join the 21st century.

Work, Valentines and scorecard.

2005-02-17T20:46:00.000+01:00

If you think you have it hard at work read this. This is what we call “suck it up and deal with it” in the army.

Earlier this week Wifey and I observed St. Valentines day; we did not celebrate like usual with the nice dinner and champagne. I sent some roses and we talked on the phone. That is the best we can do. I will make it up to wifey for this lack of celebrating later when I get back. I do love and miss her a lot.

Another one bites the dust. Time to update the scorecard on AQ

Best car and leave

2005-02-16T18:15:00.000+01:00

Do you want to know what the best car in the world is? It can do 180 kph easy, has a great stereo system, corners like a jet fighter and has lots of storage area. Don’t you know what type of car it is? It is a rental! Sign the contract and fly down the autobahn!

We are getting a few days off now. Most of the unit is made up of expat Americans living in Europe, now they can visit their families before we fly out. For the stateside crew it is day trips to keep busy or do some extra training. We may start practicing how to clean rooms. No vacuum cleaner needed, just a M-4 and some flash bangs. Time for fun in the rubber room.

SERE and tourist

2005-02-14T21:04:00.000+01:00

We just finished Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training. During the prisoner section we went over the code of conduct. It was all right, for me it was a good review, but when dealing with be a prisoner, a few guys said that will not happen to them. In past wars we have fought countries that treated us some-what to the Geneva Conventions and others that inflicted serious amounts of pain, but you did have a chance to make it home alive. Now we are facing an enemy that shows no quarter. One troop said it was better to go out as a warrior, than be doped up on special K, beg for your life on Al-Jarzeera and have your head hacked off on video that will be downloaded onto the internet.

What is amazing since the fall of Saddam in Iraq and the start of OEF in Afghanistan there is only officially one prisoner/MIA. If you think back to other wars America has fought, there were many prisoners or missing in action. Considering how many soldiers, sailors, marines and air force personnel, who have rotated through theater, it is mind boggling that the US has only one POW/MIA. This is a tribute to all ranks, especially the lower ranks that make sure that we leave nobody behind.

Robert over at the Expat Yank has a link to some tourist who just arrived in England to do “charity work.” Here is the tourist guide book written by our kind friends at al Queada or the new Minutemen.

Roadtrip

2005-02-13T21:19:00.000+01:00

“Nothing prepares you for it. It is overwhelming and the smell is still there.” That is what First Sergeant said and he was right.

I am not the smartest guy on the planet and I know that, so I will not write a thousand word essay on going to Dachau, much better has been done in the past by others.

Here are some photos and I will just give you a few random thoughts:

It cost two Euros to park your car there. Why? Do we still have to make a few bucks on this?

As you can see it was a grey and rainy day. The weather matched the location and my mood.

Most of the cars were German, with a few from France and Italy. A couple of visitors were from China or Japan.

While walking through the exposition there were a map of Germany with just not the major camps(Dachau, Flossenburg,….) but collection camps, major work farms, youth camps and factories where skilled or able bodied concentration victims worked. The map had locations all over Germany. There were copies of victim’s photo ID cards who worked for BMW, Agfa and other major German companies who contributed to the Nazi war effort. Have those companies made reparations to the workers/victims? They had to put in bids (Reich marks per person per day) for slave labor that the SS supplied. The management of the companies must have known what was going on.

I will now laugh when I hear that Germans at the time did not know what was going on in the camps. How stupid were they? The Dachau facility was not in the countryside; it was across the street from the industrial park of the town. Did the residents see the victims get off the trains and the corpses shoveled out the train? Could they not hear what was going on in the camp? Did the smell of the crematorium give a clue? It is only a few blocks from the center of the town. Did the SS, guards and camp administrators go in to the surrounding area and tell the truth and boast about their great deeds for the fatherland?

Some of the guards and others involved were pardoned, released from jail or the statue of limitations just ran out on their crimes.

One of the prisoners was Irish.

Many of the victims were hanged right in front of the crematorium ovens.

This there the ashes of thousands are buried.

Dauchau was liberated by a US army unit. (more here)

Now some Germans are saying they were victims too; give me a break.

Domain, estimates, tool, PT and quote

2005-02-11T20:38:00.000+01:00

My good friend Mary Barrett has beaten the cybersquaters who has taken his God given right for his own domain. (in the dot com realm!) So go check out his web site now!

I do not know accurate these reports are, but I wonder how they come up with these estimates. The next rotation for US forces in Afghanistan.

SPIDERS is one of the new of the new high tech tools that the army is putting to use in Afghanistan.

I will be roadtriping tomorrow. More to come.

Physical fitness training was a good but a pain this morning. We did two “pyramids” of push ups and sit ups. Do a set of ten push ups, then a set of nine…all the way to one. It was just 54 push ups but it was…..then the same with sit ups then top it off with flutter kicks. I am still sore typing this out and getting old.

Quote: that name-tag defilade is overrated

MWR, boomerang and quote.

2005-02-09T19:06:00.000+01:00

Morale, Welfare and Recreation(MWR) Germany, arranges ski and snowboard trips and other activities for soldiers that are at a good price, so I will be going a few trips either to Engleberg, Jungfrau, Feldberg, or St. Anton later this month. I will not be cutting the slopes in Afghanistan next season, so I will make the most of it while I am here in Germany.

Boomerang (More here) looks like a great piece of equipment that I might be using. It is amazing how fast equipment is coming on line.

Quote for the day: Let’s not make this into pole vaulting over rat turds.

CNN, classes

2005-02-08T19:34:00.000+01:00

Supposedly I am now part of a death squad, targeting CNN reporters, according to CNN. This is pretty sad of them to say that. More here.

Recently we had a few classes on hands and arms signals for air assault and dismounted operations(Page 15-20) and the other class was on individual movement techniques. They were fun and interesting.

Ralph Peters is spot on.

Rambo, Super Bowl and news.

2005-02-07T22:30:00.000+01:00

Rambo is alive and well in Afghanistan. Really, I bet you will not mess with him or you might get a dope slap with his lead pipe.

I watched the Super Bowl live this morning and thank God that the Pats won or more accurately the Eagles self-destructed and gave the game away. The only thing that blew was that the game was on AFN and there were no commercials, just public service announcements (PSAs) about drunk driving and other bad behavior. While the PSAs were going I got up and got some beer and chips.

Here is more good news from Afghanistan. Why don’t this make the news?

Time to go to bed. PT at 6:30 am

Training

2005-02-06T13:33:00.000+01:00

Two times a week while conducting physical fitness training, we practice drills from Krav Maga. This is the kind of training that is good to know, but you pray that you not have to use it. It is interesting that there is no rank when instruction is being conducted, just instructors and students. This form of combative training is being taught not for finding inner peace, but to kill the enemy in the fewest moves possible. We were practicing blocks and the instructor said you could block a knife with your forearms. A few troops laughed and said that would suck, but when the Sergeant pulled up his sleeve and showed a big scar, he said “it was better to get a few stitches than a sucking chest wound”.

One of the best places for information on Afghanistan is over at Strategy Page. It reads as cleaned up for public consumption J-2 brief.

Dachau and women.

2005-02-05T13:54:00.000+01:00

I was going to head to Dachau later today, but the Die Bahn or the German train system said it would take four to five hours to travel each way, cost 140 Euros for a train ticket, plus the cost of a hotel and bus out to Dachau from Munich, it would be cheaper and easier to just rent a car to drive on the autobahn. I will visit Dachau later this month.

If you look at the website for the National Organization for Women, their last press release that was related to Afghanistan was dated May 2002. If no news is good news, this means the fight for women’s rights is going well by their standards or they would be writing more press releases telling the President that there should more should be done on the behalf of women. Maybe President Bush is looking after the rights women or his policies are helping women directly or indirectly.

Here are two web sites that you can look at to help Afghani women. Women for Afghan Women and Bpeace look pretty good
to me. I googled (is to “google” a verb?) both organizations in the news section and nothing came up, so in the theme of this post, no news is good news, these organization must be all right.

Maybe this (more here) will incite the NOW to ask the president to take direct action against the Iranian Government. A female soldier in the unit saw this and said she would make short work of the men in the image with her M-249 SAW.

Mail

2005-02-04T16:39:00.000+01:00

The other day I received a care package in the mail from Wifey. It was a good sized box with lots of pogey bait (chocolate, twizzlers, beef jerky, starburst….) newspapers from home, magazines and other great items. When I opened the box a few soldiers were watching and joking that I should give them some of my treats and I did since some troops will never get any mail or gifts from “family” or “friends”. I feel bad for them so I figure sharing some of my gifts would be the only decent thing to do. We passed the newspapers and magazines around, so they will not have to burn their money on something that they would trash in a few hours.

A few troops commented that I am lucky that I have a wife that spent the money and time to send a care package in the mail and I should keep her around. I tell them that I will do everything in my power to do so. If you know somebody in the military, send them a letter in the mail. Email is great, but to receive a letter or package during mail call is special, because it symbolizes that somebody when out of their way to send you a little piece of home. When you are in the middle of nowhere, humping a rucksack, receiving mail can lift morale, trust me I know.

If you are willing to send a letter to a troop, email me and I will send you a name and address of a soldier. The military has stopped the program of delivering mail addressed to “any soldier.” It takes to much time and resources.

Metz

2005-02-02T20:40:00.000+01:00

This past weekend I went to Metz, France for a day trip so I would not earn the title of “barracks rat.” You can only work out so much, cruise the internet, eat and sleep without going insane.

Traveling in Europe by train is easy because everything so close. Within an hour or two anybody can be in three or four countries. Anyway, I have to say that the Die Bahn ICE trains are clean, efficient and on time. Would you expect anything less from the Germans? The cost of train tickets to Metz, France and return were fifty eight Euros or seventy-five Dollars.

I traveled to Saarbucken then switched trains to the French SNCF system, The French train was quick, had a maximum speed of 140 kph and were manufactured by Alstom.

In this part of Germany there were a few factories, lots of small farms and there were deer hunting stands next to the forest areas.

When I crossed into France, I noticed that there were no cattle or horses roaming around, maybe it was the time of year. Getting closer to Metz, it looked a lot like the US. There were new housing developments that were going up on farmland that were built for single families and a couple of them had swimming pools. In the suburbs, while on the train I saw a McDonalds and a 10 screen cinema advertising the latest movies from America mixed with the local French fare.

The train station in Metz looks very impressive and I found out that it was built by the Germans during the occupation. I am not sure of which one, since this part of Europe has gone back and forth between Germany and France.

While walking from the from the train station to the cathedral, I saw at St. Nicholas square another out post of civilization: Le Comptoir Irelandais. Yes another Irish goods store that sells lots of Irish whiskey, jumpers, and sweets. It was fun to brose around.

After that I headed to the Cathedral that was one of the main attractions of Metz. I will not go in to detail, there were a few interesting points. First you can go in and walk around for free. I did that at first and when you walk behind the altar; you will see graffiti. Not any old graffiti, but people chiseled their names into the pillars, like Pierre did back in 1751 and Jacques in 1814. Some people never learn. Also you can pay two Euros and walk down to the crypt and see models of other French cathedrals, statues and other parts of the church. The two Euros will also get you into the sacristy. There will see gold chalices, rings, staffs and other religious items that go back five hundred to a thousand years. Most of the church valuables were taken during the French Revolution.

After the cathedral was the Musees de la Cour d’Or. It was good with the works of Dieder Barra were featured in a special exposition. The museum cost 4.50 Euros and is worth it. The only drawback is if you have a broken leg or use a wheelchair forget it, there are lots of stairs and no elevators.

After that I walked around the city center looking at the shops. There were a few signs of the impending doom. Footlocker, Burger King, Subway and McDonalds were doing a brisk trade. A big mac, fries and coke went for five Euros or six dollars and fifty cents. There were no big department stores around, but I did stumble up upon HMV. The new U2 release was on sale for 18 Euros or 23.48 dollars.

I was looking for a nice restaurant for dinner, but most opened at 8:00 or later, so I settled for a brassiere . A bowl of onion soup, small steak, French fries on a piece lettuce, chocolate mouse with a bottle of Pierre and cappuccino went for 22 Euros. It was a nice meal and the waitress gave me a menu that was in English to make dinner easier to order.

When I was walking around I found a small pastry shop, and the ladies who were working there thought I was German. So they asked me where I came from in Germany, so I told them that I am an American soldier in K-town. They said “you are good, America number one.” I was pleasantly surprised, I thought I would get lectured about the evils of America, but they are nice ladies everywhere. Maybe they remember how America liberated Metz from the Nazis and moved on.

The train back to K-town from Metz started from Paris and was heading to Frankfurt. It was not as nice as the German ICE train. It looked like a 1960 river cruiser instead on the sleek 21st century German spaceship on wheels. Even the Polizei was nice to me when I handed my military ID card while they were looking for illegal aliens.

Jump the shark

2005-01-31T20:45:00.000+01:00

Afghanistan has jumped the shark or no new is good news unless you are part of the press because of the last election and the lack of action from Anti Coalition Militia. Those two factors spell one thing: a US success. If you use Google news alerts, insert key words such as geographical locations, name of relevant organizations or personalities, you might one press release a day if you are lucky. What does that mean? Nothing worth reporting is going on or cynically thinking, the press has moved on to bloodier and more spectacular subject matters. Captains Quarters see it as a return on investment for reporting. Why spend money on resources when it will not result in selling newspapers or grab eyeballs? Maybe the Olsen twins would make a better lead.

Driving

2005-01-30T14:52:00.000+01:00

I just drove on the autobahn this past week and you might say big deal, but I did it in a M998 Humvee. It was fun being passed by BMWs and Porsches, but my baby just cruised along fine.

Day trip, classes, acronyms and quote.

2005-01-29T23:39:00.000+01:00

I just returned from a day trip to Metz, France. It was fun, enjoyable and cold, but not as bad as New England. The French were nice, a few thought I was a German, but when I explained that I was an American soldier from Kaiserslautern, I was told in English, “you are good!” I will put together another post tomorrow.

We are taking lots of classes reviewing the basics of soldering. For soldiers with background in the combat arms it is a review, but everybody else it is time to clear out the cobwebs. Some of the subjects that was gone over were: react to near and far ambush,react to indirect fire, and learning how to be a Liaison Offfier/NCO. Some of it will be applicable to life in the civilian world.

PEDD Primary Explosive Detection Dog
PIR Parachute Infantry Regiment
PNDD Primary Narcotics Detection Dog
POI Point Of Impact/Interest
POO Point Of Origin
PRnC Purchase Request & Commitment
PRT Provisional Reconstruction Team
PSC Perimeter Security Company
PSD Personal Security Detail
PSO Personal Security Officer
PUC Persons Under Confinement
RAM Random Anti-terrorism Measures
RC-E,S, & W Reginal Command-East, South, & West
RIF Regional Interrogation Facility
RIP Relief In Place
RRF Rapid Response Force
RSOI Reception, Staging, Onward-movement, & Integration
RST Religious Support Team
SALT-R Size, Activity, Location, Time-Remarks (Action Taken)
SIGACT Significant Activity
SOG Sergeant Of the Guard
SPIDERS (HUMMV mounted IR optic system)
SPO Security Plans and Operations
TACP Tactical Air Control Party (Air Force)
TASS Tactical Automated Sensor System
TB Taliban
TCN Tactical Control Network
THT Tactical HUMINT Team
TOA Transfer Of Authority
TPFDL Time Phased Force Deployment List
TR Tower Roving element
TWG Threat Working Group
UNAMA United Nations Assistance Mission Afghanistan
UTAMS Unattended Transient Acoustic MASINT System
VBIED Vehicle Borne Improved Explosive Device
WNN World News Network (Exercise Network)
WSTI Wide Surveillance Thermal Imager

Quote of the day: Don’t do anything that I would not do, but if you do, use lubricant.

PT, speaking and more acronyms

2005-01-28T21:26:00.000+01:00

This past week was fun in the mornings since we now have a Master Fitness Expert. Just think of a milder and nicer version of Lee Emery mixed with the latest physical fitness expert. When he said “You will experience muscle failure this morning and that is my intention” I knew it was going to be an enjoyable hour. We did the stretching, then cardio of wind sprints-regular and running sideways, then lots of different variations of push-ups and crunches. I was sore at breakfast afterwards. Next week we will start hand to hand sparing. I can not wait to take my next APFT; maybe I will be able to get the same score when I finish basic training.

Every morning one of the smarter Specialist of the unit drills us on how to speak Dari and Pashto. We are at beginning learning how to say hello, thank you and other basic words. It sounds like my old Spanish class in high school, “Now everybody say….”

DCG-S Deputy Commanding General-Support
DPW Department of Public Works
DSPO Director of Security Plans and Operations
EAD Earliest Arrival Date
ECP Entry Control Point
EOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal
EST Effects Support Team
EUCOM European Command (USEUCOM)
FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas
FDO Foreign Disclosure Officer
FDR Foreign Disclosure Representative
FET Facilities Engineer Team
FI Finance
FPOC Force Protection Operations Center
FRF Forward Response Force
GNN Global News Network (Exercise Network)
HIG Hizb-I Islami Gulbuddin
ISAF International Security Assistance Force
ITGA Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan
JARB Joint Acquisition Review Board
JDOC Joint Defense Operations Center
JEMB Joint Electoral Management Board
JFCOM Joint Forces Command
JFUB Joint Facilities Utilization Board
JIF Joint Interrogation Facility
JISE Joint Intelligence Support Element
JLC Joint Logistics Command
JLENS Joint Land Elevated Netted System
JMC Joint Maneuver Command
JOC Joint Operations Center
KAF Kandahar Air Field
KBR Kellogg, Brown, and Root (Contractor)
KMO Knowledge Management Officer
LN Local National (May not be utilized)
LAD Latest Arrival Date
LRSD Long Range Surveillance Team
LTF Logistics Task Force
MARCENT US Marine Corps Central Command
MCT Movement Control Team
MDDT Mine Detection Dog Team
MMC Material Management Center
MMSO Maneuver & Mobility Support Operations (outside wire)
MRF Mobile Response Force (MPs)
M-STAR Man-Portable Surveillance Target Acquisition Radar
M-VACIS Military-Vehicle And Cargo Inspection System
MWD Military Working Dog
MWR Morale, Welfare, and Recreation
NTP Notice To Proceed
NTV Non Tactical Vehicle
OCF Other Coalition Forces
ODA Other Defense Agency
OGA Other Government Agency
OMC-A Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan
OPG Operations Planning Group
OSI Office of Special Investigations (Air Force) Like CID

Exit strategy, hobby, tools and acronyms

2005-01-27T20:22:00.000+01:00

A few soldiers at the unit are talking or really joking about an “exit strategy” for Iraq. I hate to say I have not seen or heard of any operation order or policy paper that states an exit strategy. I am currently typing this essay on my computer in an US Army operated Kaserne in Germany. America also operates military facilities in Italy, Japan, and among other places on the globe. We did not have an “exit strategy” for those locations also. If the US did it could be described with one word-victory. Look at Viet-Nam, the US had an ‘exit strategy” for that conflict and look at what it got us.

I hope that the upcoming Iraqi election shows that the ballot is stronger than the bullet. Are you rooting for the common folk in Iraq for their right to vote? Remember who said that the concept of democracy is an "evil principle…….and those who follow this wrong ideology." The one who spoke that is also the one who beheads “evil ones.’

I might be involved with the upcoming parliamentary elections in Afghanistan later this year. Not many on the other side of the aisle of Congress or the media gives the US military or present administration a compliment for a job well in Afghanistan. It is not bloody enough for them or a failure to sell newspapers or advance careers, so it will not fit their agenda, why do so?

Friends ask me how long you think we will be in Iraq or Afghanistan? I ask them how long have we been in Germany, Japan or other places for an answer. We will leave when asked and have done so in the past. Ask the French about 1966 as an example.

Is any human rights group keeping track of how many Iraqis are beheaded or killed by the insurgents? Just wondering.

Some soldiers, airmen and marines are still keeping busy with their hobbies down range and here is a great example. I might join them, since going on patrol can get old after a while. I might have to bring some glue.

JLENS is a tool that I might be using in the near future.

Here is part of a list of acronyms that was complied for the Afghani AOR.

ACCE- Air Componant Coordination Element
ACM- Anti Coalition Militia (Taliban, HIG, Al Queda)
ADACG- Airfield Arrival/Departure Control Group
AELT- Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison Team (Air Force)
AMF- Afghan Militia Forces
AMR- Air Movement Request
ANA- Afghan National Army
ANP- Afghan National Police
AOR- Area Of Responsibility
APOD- Area Port Of Debarkation
AQ- Al Queda
ASG- Area Support Group
ASL- Authorized Stockage List or Allowable Supply List
ATFP- Anti Terrorism Force Protection
ATO- Air Tasking Order
AVIM- Aviation Installation Maintenance
BAF- Bagram Air Field
BANA- Battalion Afghan National Army (Also Kandak)
BATS- Ballistic Aerial Target System
BDOC- Base Defense Operations Center
BOAB- Base Operations Assessment Brief
BOC- Base Operations Center
BOG- Boots On Ground or Boots Off Ground
BOM- Base Operations Manager
BUA- Battle Update Assessment
BUB- Battle Update Brief
CAC-A- Combined Assistance Command-Afghanistan
CAT-A- Civil Affairs Team-Alpha
CCIR- Critical Command Information Requirement
CCL- Combat-Configured Load
CDS- Containerized Delivery System
CFC-A- Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan
CFLCC- Combined Forces Land Component Command
CGO- Counter-Guerilla Operations
CHS- Combat Health Support
CI- Counter Intelligence
CID- Criminal Investigation Division (Army)
CITF- Criminal Investigation Task Force
CJCMOTF- Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force
CJOA- Combined Joint Operations Area
CJSOTF-A- Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force
CJTF- Combined Joint Task Force
COP- Current Operational Picture
COR- Commander Of Relief
CUB- Commander's Update Brief

Silence, push ups, the Navy and quote.

2005-01-26T16:50:00.000+01:00

On a recent exercise it was bit different compared to ones in the past, since the army has switched fully to the MS windows environment with the office suite, the military version of IRC, email and voice over internet. So it used to be blaring radios with grease pencils on acetate covered maps, now it is flat panel displays, C2PC (More here) on overhead displays, “chatting” on line while downloading or running a PowerPoint presentation and quietly answering questions into a microphone headset. That why it so quiet in the Tactical Operations Center, instead of the yelling and busting of paper of years gone by. Forwarding email and images are just a silent click away.

One small way the NCOs of the unit are improving the physical fitness of the troops is when you enter the sergeant’s room it is time to drop and knock out 20 push ups. It goes up by 10 push ups each time you enter their room. What is so good about this form of exercise is that the section’s printer is located in their room; by the end of the day I was sore and doing 60 to 80 push up at a clip. Some people started yelling in the room from the hallway to avoid getting in shape.

I think the Navy maybe over burdened during the tsunami relief effort. I hope this is not a preview of what awaits us in Afghanistan.

Quote of the day: I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but at least I am not a spoon.

Congress, quote and poem.

2005-01-25T19:04:00.001+01:00

Do you have to testify to Congress soon? I bet that was on your list of things to do for today, so here is an Army manual to help you prepare. Just put on you best dress uniform and smile.

Quote of the day: indecision is the key to flexibility.

Navin, a good friend and regular reader sent me a poem by Rudyard Kipling. I read this one during high school and it enjoyed it. Also read this critical essay by George Orwell on Kipling. It is very insightful and I recommend that you give it a few minutes to read to understand the man and writer of this poem. It might surprise you.

Life has changed for soldiers since Kipling’s time so here is the poem:
THE YOUNG BRITISH SOLDIER
When the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East
'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast,
An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased
Ere 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier.
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
So-oldier OF the Queen!
Now all you recruities what's drafted to-day,
You shut up your rag-box an' 'ark to my lay,
An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may:
A soldier what's fit for a soldier.
Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . .
First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts,
For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts --
Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts --
An' it's bad for the young British soldier.
Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .
When the cholera comes -- as it will past a doubt --
Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout,
For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,
An' it crumples the young British soldier.
Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . .
But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead:
You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said:
If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead,
An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier.
Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . .
If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;
Be handy and civil, and then you will find
That it's beer for the young British soldier.
Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . .
Now, if you must marry, take care she is old --
A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told,
For beauty won't help if your rations is cold,
Nor love ain't enough for a soldier.
'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier . . .
If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath
To shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my oath! --
Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both,
An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier.
Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . .
When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck,
Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck,
Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luck
And march to your front like a soldier.
Front, front, front like a soldier . . .
When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,
Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;
She's human as you are -- you treat her as sich,
An' she'll fight for the young British soldier.
Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . .
When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine,
The guns o' the enemy wheel into line,
Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine,
For noise never startles the soldier.
Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . .
If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it's ruin to run from a fight:
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,
And wait for supports like a soldier.
Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .
When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier OF the Queen!

MDMP, description, tools and equipment.

2005-01-24T16:51:00.000+01:00

Do you want to know the decisions are made and orders drafted? View this PowerPoint presentation for the basics of the Military Decision Making Process or MDMP that is part of the Army culture now. It is a customized decision process that emphasizes facts and tries to quantifes assumptions. The Army boiled down the essentials of the MBA schools for soldiers. The Army spends lots of time educating upper ranking NCO and all officers to standardized decision making in staffs. It works best in a group, but also it can be used by an individual. Rumor had that the invasion of Iraq was formulated by a SAMS student using MDMP on a hood of a humvee in a few hours. Once everybody knows the drill it works smoothly. I have even showed my wife the MDMP and she grasps it pretty well.

Here is another description of life in Afghanistan from a Wisconsin National Guard member.

This PDF presentation shows some of the new equipment and tools hat we will be getting. Look for pocket terps on page 8, maybe the Army could get one so we can talk to New Yorkers, just joking;)

Profile, Ground Truth, and Quote.

2005-01-23T16:01:00.000+01:00

This is a profile of a typical day of a sergeant in Afghanistan. Nothing glorious, he is just keeping his head low and doing his duty.

Here is a view of the ground truth. It is a bit down in the weeds, but for us it is a lifesaver.

Yesterday, I took it easy by running a few miles in the morning, knocking out a few push ups and going to the city center of Kaiserslautern. (From an American view point.) It was the first day I had off in 18 days. I went to St. Martin, Catholic Church to look at the architecture. While I was there the church organist was practicing, so I just sat down and enjoyed the impromptu concert.

After listening to the music, I stumbled up an outpost of civilization: Thirsty Nelly’s -an Irish pub. I thought I was back in Ireland, the bartender poured a good pint of Guinness and the Liverpool vs. South Hampton ('pool played like shite) game was on the telly. There were only four guys watching the game, but it was fun.

At halftime of the game, I headed in the center of the pedestrian area and saw the door to the Stiftskirche or a Lutheran church was open. It was bit plainer inside than St. Martins, but just as beautiful. A tour guide greeted me and between my bad German and his pantomime he explained the construction of the church. A German lady who has lived in K-town for years, walked in. She spoke English and German, so she translated and told me, that we were the only visitors of the church so far for the day. He also said that the reformation is over, that the Lutherans and Catholics are starting joint ecumenical services. He was a friendly gentlemen, invited me to a free concert at the church and gave me a map of the down town area.

A lot of stores in K-town were either closed on Saturday or closed between one or three in the afternoon. There were a few exceptions such as H and M and the Gondrom bookstore stayed open until 6:00 pm and it had a nice little coffee shop, so I wrote some letters, while drinking a few cappuccinos.

Last was dinner at Sprinnradl next to the bus stop at the Schiller Platz, It was built in 1740 and is one of the only remaining half-timber building in the city. I know that it is old, since I smacked my head on a ceiling beam. The food was good and not too expensive. It also is a pub/wine bar. Afterwards it was a bus ride back to the Kaserne.

I was trying out my new camera a Radio Shack Flatfoto. As you can see that the photos are ok quality, it has a problem that you can not adjust the camera for low light conditions. I might upgrade and get another camera that has higher quality of images. As the saying goes “you get what you pay for.”

Now the Patriots need to beat Steelers and I will be a happy camper at PT tomorrow morning.

Quote of the day: Don’t be PC, be right, efficient and decisive.

Intellectual sparring and quote

2005-01-21T08:58:00.000+01:00

Over the pass few nights we have had wide ranging discussion on present operations and ended up on the moral aspects of war. Unfortunately not many soldiers have a deep background in the study of morals and ethics, other than what the military gives. (Here is a resource list from the military) Sadly, I think this is reflective of society in general. I brought up St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica or the Just War Theory.

(This is the Roman Catholic view. This is good back ground on Summa Theologica from the Pew Foundation and here is another theological view)

After we delved into this realm, the audience thinned out unfortunately, since we were going over a few people’s heads. Also it might not be as interesting as watching a DVD or playing a game on a X-box. What was interesting that we had the full spectrum of viewpoints, philosophies and cultures from around the world were represented. You could see peoples backgrounds and areas of academia in which they received their degrees. Engineers, technical and scientific people were itching for a blackboard and chalk to illustrate their theories with diagrams and the humanities were well represented with their rhetorical skills. It will be time to go over some logic material, it will come in handy. I bet we will go back to this area of intellectual sparring again soon.

Here is the BBC’s view. It is a bit light and made not to offend anybody. That is the modern PC way of thinking.

Quote of the day: Hope is not a battlefield operating system.

Views from down range and packing

2005-01-20T22:43:00.000+01:00

This news from Afghanistan that you will never see in print or on the tube. Via Blackfive.

Here are two views of the media from troops in Iraq. First is from a soldier, who is a Battalion commander.

Second, whoever said Marines are stupid should read this. It is a good analysis of the forth estate. I thought the press was lazy and did not want to verify its sources, but after reading this well, the press should reconsider what passport they carry.

Today was spent packing equipment in ISU-90s. It was a bit boring, but vital that we did it correctly. Verifying paperwork and packing lists, packing hazardous material, blocking and bracing items so they would not shift in transit was the order of the day. Tomorrow will be inspection time from the transporters; I hope we will not have “frustrated” cargo.

Gifts

2005-01-19T19:47:00.000+01:00

If you are going to buy something for your beloved trigger puller, here are a few suggestions:

A high power light by Surefire. They are so bright can blind people and be attached to an M-4 for night time action.

If you are going to buy a GPS make sure that it is water proof, use the Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) and is backlit, so it can be used at night without shining a flash light on it and having it wash out, because of the bright light.

If your trigger puller uses a pistol or a GPS, get a lanyard that coils up like an old fashion telephone cord or retracts. It sucks trying to find your gear after falling out of a helicopter or HMWVV during an engagement.

I don’t make money or get any free swag from the vendors of the links that are above. Some civilians don’t have a clue about tactical gear and that is ok. If you asked me about surgical equipment or baking supplies I would have been equally clueless; that is the great thing about the internet and blogs, we can spread the knowledge.

Quote of the day: A good plan executed violently is better than an excellent plan done feebly.

Status of Forces, Commentary, and a Quote

2005-01-18T14:24:00.000+01:00

This going around right now and is generating lots of comments. One hand the United States Army Reserve is “degenerating into a broken force“ by LTG Helmly and on the other hand the National Guard is ok. I think it somehwere in between. I have served in both components and seen excellent units that I would serve in combat with and ok units that would need a new chain of command and a few weeks of intensive training to fix. There is sometimes a disconnect between the active and reserve component of the Army, but when rubber hits the road, the mission will be completed. Remember that the US Army is shaped by Congress and you, the tax payer.

This is great commentary every American should read. I hope this is the last spasms of the reactionary forces that are trying to hold back progress.

Quote for the day: He is not burdened with great intellect.

Mottos, Rations, and Photos Essays

2005-01-17T15:44:00.000+01:00

While I was standing outside of the shopette waiting for a few team members to come out, a female First Lieutenant came out and met a few soldiers from her unit going in. They did the usual statute and salutation as we all do in uniform. Usually the salutation is “Good afternoon ma’am”, or a unit motto is barked out. This is done for unit esprit de corps. One of many I had to use was “Vanguards” and the officer would return the greeting with “Leads the way.”

This Lieutenant looked like she would be a spunky collegiate cheerleader, but the façade was broken when her female MPs shouted out “FIRST TO SHOOT!” and the Lieutenant replied with an icy “FIRST TO KILL!” A few heads turned when that reply was heard. Now I know the MP Corps must be out to give the infantry branch a run for their money in the macho department.

One of the solid sources of journalism, Maxim magazine, just rated the US Army’s MREs against other foreign military’s field rations. With no surprise the French came out in top and the British, well they gave it their best shot. So go buy a copy of Maxim for the content, not the photos.

Here is a great photo essay on Afghanistan from Open Democracy on Humanising a beast – the American military. It shows images on patrols around Camp Salerno and the Afghan countryside, where I might be operating. Go take a peak of my future playground.

Saying for the day: Do you understand that this is clear as mud?

CNNi and MLB

2005-01-16T13:22:00.000+01:00

If I eat meals at the DFAC there are two big screen televisions going. Usually ESPN is muted and CNN international is blasting. If you watch CNN international it is different from CNN that is broadcasted to the US. I think a lot of people forget that CNN is a profit making corporation and it generates lots of revenue from its overseas market.

One thing a money making, profit driven entity, such as CNN try not to do, is to piss off its customers (viewers) and profit stream (advertisers). If you look at its advertisers, see when they are based and who their possible customers are, it is easy to understand why CNN has a ”bias.” Red Sea Riviera in Egypt, Qatar Airlines, Sir Lankian Air or try this link, Air Emirates, Madrid Tourism, Thuraya Satellite Cell Phones, Orascum-Turkish cell phone company with its main market in the Middle East and various national and regional travel agencies purchases lots of advertising time on CNN international.

Then some of CNN content is not made by CNN, it is in made other countries by companies that I suspect is part of some country’s foreign ministry department or tourism board. That is why the “World Report” has a softball feel. It does not ask any hard questions. I wonder if CNN made any other deals with foreign governments to get permission to “report” the news, as they did with Saddam in Iraq. Can you email CNN and ask for copies of segments that came out of Iraq during Saddam’s reign? I wonder what they looked like?

I just saw that Major League Baseball (MLB) announced a new “drug testing policy.” A few of us soldiers laughed when we compared it with the US Army’s policy of zero tolerance. I had two urine analysis tests last year and I figure that I will get the first of many this year soon. Also if the MLB policy does not meet the International Olympic Committee’s standard, will US baseball players still be able to play in the Olympics?

Quote of the day: Don’t let logic cloud the situation.

AWOL: Absent with out leave, quote and MTV.de's commercials

2005-01-15T16:58:00.000+01:00

AWOL
Sorry for being AWOL lately, I have been working on a staff estimate for the past few days that was finished in MS PowerPoint. After cashing favors, emailing Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), complying databases and doing other analysis, we finished our presentation. To maximize our efforts we split our group into a day and night shifts so we could cover more of the globe and we could catch people during the day for emails and phone calls.

One of our night staffers was appointed as the Slide Master to format, merge slides from other staff members and make the presentation consistent and pretty. Well our slide master whose shift was suppose to be 12 hours in length was actually doing half a day AND night shift or 18 hours. After a few days of that he was feeling woozy with the lack of sleep and drinking massive amounts of coffee. So what did he do? He saved the original slide presentation or the unpopulated slide with no data OVER the finished product at 2:00 am of the day we were suppose to do the presentation for the big people or who those are a few pay grades over our heads.

He said right after he clicked on the save button he realized what he did and the “oh shit” phase of screwing up commenced. Right after that he ran out to get his handy or cell phone and call us to let us know of his misdeed. I was awakened out of a dead sleep, told what just transpired and said “WTF?” that is no joking matter. When I realized it was the truth, I check my watch, set the alarm function to wake me up in an hour for I knew this would be a monumental task to recreate the presentation, because I shreded my notes and deleted email for security reasons.

I though the perpetrator of this mess would be consuming copious amounts of fecal matter at a rapid velocity from all involved, but everybody was pretty good and focused on recreating the presentation. In the end all went well, but the lesson learned was to back up the presentation.

Quote of the day: Is it time to drink the purple cool aid yet?

I am watching MTV Germany while writing a post and I have seen the same commercial for “Scooter” a house music band selling polyphonic ring tones 10 times with in the last 20 minutes. They must be desperate to sell this stuff.

Uniforms and exercises

2005-01-12T14:07:00.000+01:00

Today I met a First Sergeant who was showing off the new Army Combat Uniform. It looks like it was well thought out and I mentioned to him that the ACU looked how my SF friends would modify their BDUs. They would add extra pockets on the sleeve, vecro patches, ect.. now the high speed look is going on army wide.

When I asked him about the uniform you could see the switch in his head flip on and he went in to auto-talk-explain mode. He was pretty good about answering questions and said around October I will get a few more sets of uniforms.

Right now I am participating in an exercise that has a hundreds even thousand participants that hooked up to computers. More here. There are lots of small situations that deal with the full spectrum of war and OOTW (Other Operations Than War-ooh twah in milspeak). These situations are based on past events that the military and especially the army and the everyday soldier has to deal with. What to do when a VBIED-Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device is found. Do you call higher headquarters or EOD first? How do you run a check point?

What do you do when a patrol reports that they see somebody cutting part of the perimeter fence? Are they going to smuggle an IED into the Forward Operating Base (FOB) or some local who is stealing part of the fence to sell on the black market to make some money and feed the kids? Grease the guy with a M-249, use Less Than Lethal (LTL) force or wrestle the guy down and hog tie him with flexi-cuffs?

What do you do when you see a six year old kid waive an AK-47 at the perimeter tower? Light the kid up and piss off the family and local Warlord or shrug your shoulders.

It is more interesting since we have personnel from down range putting us through drills and giving us copies of their procedures.

If you have a question feel free to email me at goingdownrange at yahoo.com. Replace the at with @.

Greetings from Graf and late Christmas

2005-01-10T11:39:00.000+01:00

Greetings from Graf. I just found a computer that I can post from. Most computers are part of the SIPR or Securer Internet for the military. SIPR does not have any contact with the regular internet so, no access to blogger.com

Right now I am part of Unified Endeavor and we are pulling our heads out of our fourth point of contact, trying to get as much information to do our job, and meet new people that we will be working with down range. We just developed four Courses of Actions (COA) for a PowerPoint presentation. I hope I will not become a slide slut or bitch.

It is unseasonably warm for Graf for this time of year. There is no snow on the ground and it is above freezing today.

A few days ago it was Christmas for me. I went through the Army’s Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI), More information here, the other day. I was going to spend a few dollars on nice high speed, low draw, high tech, equipment and clothing items from shops like US Cavalry or Ranger Joes and buy a few hundred dollars of equipment such as silk underware, Wiley XL ballistic sunglasses, MICH helmet, but Uncle Sam just the delivered goods. I walked out with a duffle bag or at least a thousand dollars of equipment. Socks, polar fleece pants and jackets, gloves, winter and summer boots with gortex and vibram soles, goggles, night vision goggle mounts for MICH helmets. It was great and this will save Private Snuffy a few paychecks, but the vendors like Blackhawk, must be cursing.

Going to Graf toady.

2005-01-07T09:42:00.000+01:00

Look what Santa is giving Special Forces for Christmas. I wish I went for a SF tab when I was younger, so I could play with these toys.

I am heading to Graf later today for a meeting with some big people in a Mercedes Benz mini van! Ho Ho! I wonder how it will stack up against my wife’s Sienna.

It was the normal morning of four miles, push ups and sit ups with breakfast in the DFAC.

Here is a quick post for this afternoon on food in the Army.

2005-01-06T13:38:00.000+01:00

On Thursdays it is Soul Food day or Southern cuisine. I find it ironic that I had to join the Army, get mobilized, and go to Germany to eat some of the best Soul food ever. So here is part of the menu:

Southern Fried Catfish
BBQ Spare Ribs
Fried Chicken
Oven Baked Chicken
Pork Hocks
Pig’s Feet
Baked Mac & Cheese
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Corn On the Cob
Collard Greens
Corn Bread
Asst Pastries
Asst Salads

It is pretty good, so good that the line is almost out the door and a lot of civilian employees and German nationals fill the DFAC.

A quiet day

2005-01-03T19:17:00.000+01:00

Today was a quiet day of sleeping or trying to get over jet lag, getting a high and tight hair cut, picking up uniforms and hitting the weights. Nothing earth shattering here.

A few of us went to the DFAC for dinner and CNN international was on the TV reporting on the tsunami that hit the coastal region of the Indian Ocean was non-stop. One of the marines was watching said Fajulla after the battle looked pretty good compared devastated coastal areas. Also somebody commented that Osama Bin Laden must be pissed off about the tsunami saying that this bumps his cause off the world media propaganda radar screen and America get a little good press for helping others, while al Queda does nothing to help the victims. Last another person commented that this event showed how insignificant the impact of the human race is on the planet earth. Global warming is nothing compared to Mother Nature when she gets pissed off.

This is too true. Via the Cabarfeidh Pages (Highland Warriors)

Will this make the news in the US:

Top US military commanders in Afghanistan have said that inspite of all the battering received by the hardline Taliban militia at the hands of the US and the coalition forces, the Taliban was far from being a spent force.

I wonder if the military and the present Administration will get credit for the progress that has been made in Afghanistan in the MSM? I doubt it.

I wonder if the carrot and stick method is actually working. I will find out in a little while.

Happy New Years to you and ones that you love.

2005-01-02T21:46:00.000+01:00

The past week has sped by quickly. On Christmas Eve I was flying home to spend the holidays with family and friends and one week later I am back in K-town, ready to train for a deployment.

If there is one day you should avoid traveling, it must be Christmas Eve. With airlines going to the toilet it was an adventure for masochists. When my flight from Frankfurt arrived in Newark, NJ, I had 30 minutes to get my bags, clear customs, put my bags back in to the domestic system, clear security, and run through one terminal. Optimistically I thought it was doable.

While most airlines were doing their utmost to screw up by the numbers, the TSA performance was outstanding. They put private industry to shame. When I arrived at the customs area of the airport, TSA kept opening more booths to get traveler's passports processed. In front of the of processing booths one TSA lady was telling people to move to a newly open booth and when she saw all the high and tight hair cuts on the military personnel carrying black and tan ruck sacks, she said, “ Is there any military personnel coming through?” The Air Force and Navy types replied with a “yes” and the Army and Marines barked out a “whooha.” After that reply she opened two lines just for the military with two TSA personnel per booth to process us.

Well, one big mouth slob whined “why do they get special treatment?” The lady from the TSA eyes focused on the slob like a targeter from the Ballistic Missile Defense system and told him “They are fighting a war right now and some of them may die for you, is that ok with you, mister?” He shut his hole up quickly and I moved through customs in 30 seconds with a big “Thank you” from the TSA clerk.

After that, I ran to the security check, x-ray and metal detectors at the domestic gates. One Chinese lady way yakking about her flight was leaving and wanted to by-pass the whole security process. One TSA screener told her that she had to go through and at that the Chinese lady let loose a barrage of drill sergeant insults. Out of no-where three TSA security goons showed up. You know the big ones dressed in black with HK MP-5's. They told her to do as she was told or she was going with them. Does the phrase “body cavity search” and the sound of latex gloves come to mind?

After that fun episode, I did my Olympic sprinter on EMO and other chemical enhancements imitation to the gate. Lo and behold my flight was moving away from the terminal as I arrived at the gate. I asked the Gate Attendant if she could book me on the next flight to Boston and she just mumbled “go to customer service.”

I walked to customer service and the line was a block long and was not moving. There was only four customer service representatives working the desk and my prospect of getting home on time were diminishing. I was talking with a guy who asked me if I was a soldier. He told me he was in the Vietnam War and said that we are doing a great job. I asked him if he a cell phone and if I could borrow it. He said no problem and I dialed Continental’s 1-800 phone number. I got through to their reservation desk. At that point I told the lady my situation and she promptly booked me on the next flight to Boston with a seat assignment. I did the same for the Gentlemen who lent me his phone. Other people on line started to whip out the cell phones and did the same when they heard me talk on the cell phone. So I made it to my family only three hours late.

After I made it home, time flew by. I have to give a big kudos to my wife, who in three weeks put the house together and arrange a surprise party for me. She called and emailed friends, former co-workers, neighbors, fellow church-goers, fraternity brothers and about 65 or 70 showed up. It was a great party and good to see so many friends who thanked me for serving and told my wife if she needs help or anything just call. It was heartening.

Also it was nice just to be a husband and father around the house. We went to see the Disney on Ice show and my three year old daughter was delighted to see Ariel the Mermaid.

Leaving my wife and daughters last night at the airport sucked. It was a tearful event. I tried to tell my daughter that I love her, but she did not want me to go to the Army in her words.

I have to give a big thanks to Joe, Terry and Kerry for helping out around the house and Sean and Tamara for helping my wife figure the maze out of Logan Airport. I bet I missed a few others, but I have been up for the past 30 hours, so my brain is not functioning at full speed.

Take care and God Bless.

Christmas leave

2004-12-23T09:16:00.000+01:00

Here is some speculation on what Al Qaeda is up to. It looks pretty solid.

I like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, Zarathosht Diso, Eid-ul-Fitr and for atheists, have some fun and be safe. I will be traveling tomorrow back to America to spend the holiday with my family. It will be great to see them, but will suck leaving them in a few days. I will make the most of the time being with them, so posting will be light between Christmas and New Years, so get away from the computer, go out side and play in the snow, sand or what ever. Go live life and kiss the ones that you love…..that is the spirit of the season.

This is from Jason at Just Another Soldier. I posted this my old blog, but I think everybody should see life from an infantryman’s view. It is hard to explain to civilians what is like to be an infantryman. Some people in the past thought I was crazy when I was in the infantry. So before I start rambling, here is Jason’s monograph on the infantry.

The Tao of Soldiering

I.
Learn to Suffer

II.
You are not Special

Know your Place

III.
Release your Attachments

Today is the birthday of The Monastic Order of Infantrymen. For those unfamiliar with MOI, let me explain.

Soldiering is difficult. But for soldiers with the proper attitude, there can be great fulfillment from this work. To find peace and contentedness from a job that may seem intuitively chaotic, you simply have to find the tao of soldiering and embrace it.

For soldiers who are nauseated by terms like 'embrace', 'peace', and 'contentedness', and don't know how to pronounce 'tao' (it's like 'dow', as in Dow Jones, and can be translated loosely to mean 'the way') let me put this in terms a grunt can understand. Being a soldier is to live in a world of shit. You're constantly surrounded by assholes, you have to endure an unending amount of bullshit from your leadership, military regulations and paperwork, stupid training missions, and in the end of it all you'll most likely get shit on by your own government sooner or later when they fuck up your pay and benefits. And to top it all off, you might actually have to go into combat at some point which also means you'll spend a lot of time in another world of shit (i.e. Iraq) and possibly get your balls blown off by some insurgent asshole who is too afraid to fight you face to face so he explodes jury-rigged artillery rounds next to your Humvee while he's outside the maximum effective range of most your weapons systems. Soldiering just plain sucks. From the pogues who cook my food and do my laundry to the Apache pilots and the Green Berets who do all the Hollywood stuff, our lives are in a constant state of suck. But there are soldiers who have found a way to not only endure it all, but to enjoy it. Contentment, happiness, fulfillment, rewardingness, peace, meaning, purpose, zen, the way, the middle path, nirvana, the big nothing, whatever you want to call it, it's there if you are unafraid to see it.

Learn to Suffer

Most everything a soldier does entails discomfort. As a soldier, you will discovery an encyclopedic number of ways to suffer. The suffering is physical, psychological, and emotional. It can also be financial, legal, marital, and any other word you can give the '-al' suffix to. There is nowhere you can go to avoid suffering. There is no reprieve, no solace. It is unavoidable and inevitable. You can either cry about it, or you can just learn how to suck it up.

One of the first things an effective soldier learns during Basic Training is that physical endurance has nothing to do with physical ability. Your body gives you the illusion that you are only able to do what is within your physical limitations. Say for example your muscles are only strong enough to do fifty pushups. This limitation is very convincing. You believe that you can't do more than what your muscles and bones are physically capable of doing. In reality the only limitation is the will of the soldier. You probably think that if you lift weights and get stronger muscles, you will be able to do seventy pushups. This is true, but you aren't able to do more pushups because your muscles are stronger, you are able to do more pushups because your stronger muscles are a convincing illusion to allow yourself the will to do more. The truth is, with will alone you can do seventy pushups, or ten thousand for that matter. Accomplishing more than you physically should be able to is referred to as "using the force." If the Jedi metaphor for describing "will" doesn't work for you, then use the Christian one. In the New Testament (Matthew 17:20), Jesus said that with the faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains. So whether you're raising an X-Wing fighter out of a swamp or parting the Red Sea, the concept is the same: you simply need the will.

It is not necessary for the novitiate to buy into any of this. But when he's into the twelfth mile of a forced road march carrying nearly his own body weight in gear, he learns that there is a landscape of pain he never knew existed. Once you've learned that there is no real limit to what you can endure, you're on your way to understanding that you can do just about anything so long as you allow yourself to have the will to do it. And the easiest way to learn this concept is to suffer and realize you can endure it, then as you reach a new level of painful experiences, you are able to begin working on the next level. Eventually you learn that there is virtually no end to the kinds of pain mortality can make available to you, and you continue to learn that there is no discomfort you can not overcome. The process of learning to suffer is always ongoing. No matter how much you've suffered, there is always more to suffer.

You are not Special

As Americans and westerners, we value individuality more than just about anything. Individuality is at the core of our concepts about freedom. The protection of the individual is vital to a free society. But while the civilian is the "individual", the soldier is the "protection".

As a society, we've gotten really good at fostering individual development. As a soldier, trying to incorporate the idea that individuality must be discarded is usually a very hard thing to accept at first. Because of basic psychological self-preservation instincts and a million beliefs that have been socialized into us from the moment of our birth, we protect our "ego" more than anything. You are who you think you are. You spend your life developing an image in your head of who you are. You have a name, you live in a certain place, you have a certain profession, you have tastes, opinions, preferences, druthers. In terms of a capitalistic society, we are nothing more than consumers. So we define our individuality by what we consume. (Sometimes the consumer becomes disillusioned by this, so he simply adjusts his tastes to something that more easily will identify him as an individual. "I'm not into Metallica anymore, they're too mainstream. I'm into The Mars Volta now.") There are eight million individuals in New York City. I was one of them. Like in college where the second question asked after "what's your name" is "so what's your major", in New York City the only two things anyone wants to know when they first meet you are "so what do you do" and "where do you live". I was a paratrooper and a programmer who lived in Nolita. I doubt there has ever been anyone who could say that. So I'm an individual, right?

In ten thousand years, no one is going to know who you were. Right now, while you are living, you don't even really matter. You live in Ohio, you work at a hardware store, you drive a Saturn, you have two kids, you send your mom a Mother's Day card every year, you have a beautiful lawn. You're the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, you have a loft in Chelsea and a summer home on Fire Island, you come from old money, you visit your mom every Christmas who lives in the home where you grew up an only child in New England, you were on the cover of Forbes and Out in the same month. Does any of this really matter? Someday you're going to die and they'll throw dirt on your grave just like everyone else's. Someday the sun will expand and consume every living thing on earth. Someday the universe will collapse in on itself then explode into a brand new universe. Even these events don't really matter, they're just things that happen. So whether you prefer creamy or chunky is of such absurdly little consequence, the near meaninglessness of it is mind-boggling. Accept that you are of no consequence, that you are essentially nothing. In a universe of infinite universes that will ultimately return to the singularity from whence they all came, you are as inconsequential as my peanut butter preference.

Know your Place

As a corollary to knowing that you are not special, you must also know your place. Unlike the private kindergarten you attended in Woodstock where everyone was special and an equal, even Timmy in his wheelchair and Tyrone the black kid, in the military there is a hierarchy because it is the easiest way to get things done. I spent an enormous amount of my military career as a private. I took out the trash and mopped the floor. Now that I'm a sergeant, I want you to shut the fuck up and continue sweeping, is that clear? Everyone has a job and a role, and by staying in your lane, work can be accomplished more efficiently. Imagine if your car's fuel injection system decided it wanted to start managing the anti-lock braking functions? The compartmentalization of tasks exists so you can be free to concentrate on your own set of tasks. When I raid a building, I know how I'm going to breech the door, I know how to clear the rooms, I know how to handle detainees. While I'm doing this there are Apaches circling overhead. I don't know how to do their job, and that's okay. I need air support and they provide it. The intelligence guys interrogate the detainees and come up with more targets for my platoon to raid. Remember, you are Soldier Nobody, not General Patton. Concentrate on your job and you will be able to perform it well. As an Infantryman, your job is to shoot people. Don't worry about Abu Ghraib, Fallujah, or Michael Moore. If your target is moving, remember to lead your point of aim a bit.

Release your Attachments

Suffering is caused by attachments. The sooner you accept this, the sooner you will learn how to overcome suffering. As Americans and westerners, we love our stuff. How much did you love Christmas as a kid? I remember thinking that the entire purpose of life was Christmas. That's when I got a whole new batch of toys, because as a kid, all the mattered to me was toys. To this day, I am still in awe at the fact that the feeling Christmas gave me is one without parallel. There have only been a handful of experiences in my life that are on par with how I felt about Christmas as a child. But toys break, they get lost, and eventually you lose interest in them. As an adult, what is more of a pain in the ass then your car? Or upkeep of your house? You can get a lot of satisfaction from stuff, I won't deny how much I love going to Barnes & Noble or to the music store. But you don't get real happiness from material possessions. And attachments go well beyond the things you can own. Relationships you have with people can be attachments. In fact, I dare say that there are more relationships in the world based on insecurity and attachment than love. And the ultimate attachment is your own ego. Your sense of 'self' is something you cling to, because as we already discussed, it's who you think you are. The linchpin to the the tao of soldiering is freeing yourself from your attachments. The less you own, the better. The more stuff you own is more stuff to worry about while you're deployed. The girl you were dating isn't going to wait for you for eighteen months, so just get over her and move on. Even if you are in a healthy and strong relationship with your wife, your marriage will not be the same when you get back. Like the relationship you have with any of your loved ones, it won't necessarily go bad, but it will certainly be different when you get back. There are several guys in my platoon who missed births of their children. This affects them and I'm sure it affects their wives. And in turn it will affect their marriage. Crappy marriages don't handle this sort of this well and they will end. Good marriages will weather it, but will evolve into something different. Either way, guys who are attached to the way things were, will be miserable. And whatever you thought about yourself, ideas you cling to that you consider part of your identity, may very well change after you've been around some good 'ole fashion death and destruction. Attachments are bad. The less you have the better. Real freedom is having no attachments. Only then are you able to have happiness. When you feel happiness for it's own sake, and not because of some external mechanism, you have found the tao.

The Monastic Order of Infantrymen

Infantrymen who have found the tao of soldiering sometimes find themselves living a near-monastic lifestyle because of it. If you have no major attachments, specifically no wife, no girlfriend, and no kids, and have an MOS that is 11-series, 18-series (Army), 03-series (Marines), or you are a Navy SEAL, you are able to join the Order. To join, a novitiate must perform an act of initiation involving humiliation, discomfort, and nudity as perscribed by a member of MOI. For example, making a snow angel in public while naked. Exceptional novitiates can be grandfathered in without initiation if three members of MOI approve. The proper greeting between members is a handshake with the right hand while grabbing ones own crotch with the left. Members will refer to each other as "brother", and the proper way to say good-bye is, "See you in Valhalla, brother." Should a member come to find he has a wife, girlfriend, or child, he is honorably released from the Order.

I like being a soldier and I love being an infantryman. There are a lot things that truly suck about being in Iraq, but none of it's really all that bad. This is the most interesting and exciting thing I've ever done. War is a horrible thing and I hope that as human culture we can find a way to completely put an end to it, but I have to admit I like combat. I'm not sure how this is possible, but it's how I feel. When guys discuss when we will be sent home, I get sorta depressed. I don't want it to end yet. How often do you get to shoot at terrorists? (Don't try to tell me they're not all terrorists. The guy who fills the water tanks for our showers had his head cut off last week and his entire family killed. That qualifies as terrorist in my book.) I love this job. Anyone who says you won't find happiness during combat, doesn't know how to find happiness. Combat has nothing to do with it.

More debates

2004-12-22T16:23:00.000+01:00

The second debate was centered on what would be a better point defense system for our purposes in Afghanistan: M134 Minigun or the XM-214 . Everybody agreed that we should find the national stock number for both items and modify the Table of Equipment (MTOE) to justify the order for two of each of these systems.

2004-12-22T08:19:00.000+01:00

Quentin Tarantino would have a hard time recreating the debate we had the other night. It was not politically correct by any measure. The subjects of the first debate was: Christina Aguilera vs. Britney Spears. It centered on the three arguments: One, who would bring home to meet the parents? Two, who would you, want to introduce to the guys? Three, well I can not publish any part of that debate. A suggestion was made to include other ladies in the future.