Finally, Outa Here!

Goodbye KAF, I won't miss ya!

Show time for "Moose 92" to Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait is 1830 and will likely leave 2 hours later. Checked the flight at 1500 and it had ~150 pax (passengers) so I believe that means I'll be flying in a C-17 rather than a C-130. That's 3 hours less flying time to Kuwait! Sure hope the flight isn't cancelled (happened twice to my Navy room-mate prior to his departure). Either way, I have to wait until Saturday for the Freedom Flight.

Goodbye dust, rocket attacks, poo-pond smell and constant flight line noise. Hello 4 days of 115-120 degree heat and boredom but the end is in sight.

The picture is of tent city at Ali Al Salem taken during my one day stay en-route to KAF

Last Few Days

Just 2-3 more days left in KAF. I'm outprocessing RC(S) the next 2 days which requires approximately 30 minutes of time. Outprocessing in the Army has got to be one of the most pleasurable things to do. I'm not kidding. Lots of free time to get personal stuff accomplished.

Had my farewell last night at the Boardwalk pizza place. It was the first time I'd eaten on the Boardwalk (many reasons) and it was quite good. The medical folks at RC(S) gave me a nice send off and a nicer gift (pictured). Now I gotta figure out how to get it back home intact.

I stayed up until 0100 watching the England-USA World Cup soccer match with 2 Brits at RC(S). Drank four different non-alcoholic beers (I think I like Beck's the best). Late start today, though. I've got to get stuff organized to head out of here.

Can't wait to get home and see my Mustang (oops, was that out loud?) I mean Jolene, family and friends. Yah, that's what I meant to say!

We're Almost There

Time is drawing short. I'd like to say it went by quickly, but IT DIDN'T! My "Theater Release" date is Tuesday 15 June. I should then fly to Kuwait that day or the next. Stay in the 118 degree heat until Saturday the 19th. Hopefully, I 'll catch the Freedom Flight on Saturday night and be in Ft Benning Sunday morning. 4-5 days of outprocessing at Benning and then fly home Thursday the 24th.

All of this assumes nothing goes wrong. Remember, this the Army.

Nice ride, huh? This is the exact car I ordered (to the color, wheels and racing stripe!) through military overseas sales. 2011 Ford Mustang with all new V6 engine pulling 304 horsepower. Got plenty of bling inside. It's being built this week and next and will be shipped to Titus Will Ford in Tacoma for pickup when I return home. Got a pretty good deal, too!

I kept it a secret from Jolene until yesterday. She says I'm having a mid-life crisis. I say "eat my dust!!!" See ya soon.

Things I Miss...

Well, we're almost there. I have approximately 3 weeks until I outprocess AFG. Still determining when I can leave Kuwait. The Freedom Flight directly to Ft Benning only leaves there once per week on Saturday nights. I'm told that since I have a weapon (go figure, ARMED conflict and all), I have to take the Freedom Flight. Then 5(!) days at Ft Benning for demob. I really don't think it'll take 5 days, but we'll see. So I thought I'd compile a list of things I miss and will look forward to when I get home. Wife, family, co-workers and friends are a given. So here ya go...

Taking a shower without having to wear "shower-shoes" (flip-flops, nothing between the toes please)

Actual metal silverware

Anything green, not associated with an Army uniform - trees, grass, shrubs

Bodies of water (that don't have poo in them), preferably with mountains as a background

Weekends or just 1 day off

Driving

Picking out clothes to wear. Don't get me wrong, there's something quite simple about wearing ACU's or Army PT uniform every day. My tan looks kinda funny, though. Back of hands, neck and face.

TV programs (with sound, preferable)

A bathroom that's 10 feet away for that middle of the night run. Thanks enlarging prostate and copious fluid intake. Gotta put those shower shoes on in the middle of the night, too.

A nice, cold beer with a slice of Godfather's combo

Real radio, not BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting System) and its techno-hip-hop.

A run outside, not on a treadmill (too dusty, hot, crowded, poo-pond smelling here)

Doing my own laundry. Will gladly accept Laundry Boy chores upon my return

Recycling

Not needing to wear 40 pound body armor in 100 degree heat

TV commercials, not military public service anouncements

My own bed

Finally, an internet connection that doesn't cost $70 per month with speeds slower than dial-up. Drives me absolutely insane. While typing this post for the past 15 minutes I've been uploading the picture of the "grass" outside our "office". It still isn't done!!!

But I've got it EASY!

God bless those troops of all nations doing the actual war fighting here and keep them safe.

Happy Memorial Day!!!

It's Finally Lost Its Allure

Well, by now you've all heard about the attack on KAF last night. Nothing I'm going to tell you can't be found on the internet. It started at 1950 with a rocket attack - I hit the floor (on Skype with Jolene again, that's two in a row!), waited 2 minutes, got back into my uniform and headed out to the bunker. The bunker is 2 walls of 12 inch thick concrete with a concrete roof. Fits lots of people.

Once I got into the bunker, another rocket attack siren wailed and one landed ~3/4 mile away. Not 10 seconds later, another hit the boardwalk which is ~150 meters from my bunker. The picture was taken 20 seconds after it hit. We then got the Giant Voice stating that "KAF is under ground attack. Take cover in place". So there I stood in the bunker (or very near it as concrete baked all day long in the sun doesn't cool down quickly) for the next 4 hours as Force Protection took care of the "situation".

In the end, 12 people were injured with no fatalities. When you come to think of it, ~15 insurgents attacking a fortified air base with a population of 25,000 of which at least 20,000 are armed in a defensive posture - not the smartest idea.

Anyway, as I was walking away from RC(S) this afternoon in 100 degree heat, wearing 40 pounds of body armor with the wind blowing dust in my eyes and poo-pond smell in my nose, I thought, "my fun-meter is just about pegged!"

The Food

The food here isn't really all that bad. Glowing endorsement, huh?

I essentially have 4 DFACs to choose from. Niagra is the closest to my billet so I frequent it the most. It serves "American cuisine". I occasionally have lunch at Luxemborg (the "sux") because it's close to RC(S). It serves European food. Cambridge is in the UK section of KAF and serves British-style food (been there once). Finally, Far East serves curry and stir fried items. Unfortunately, it's quite a walk from my room.

There's a pretty good variety at each. Niagra has two main lines, a pasta/mexican line, salad bars and dessert bars. There's also two short order areas where they make burgers, fries, occasional barbecue wings, onion rings and calamari. Yep, calamari. You can get it nearly every day at Luxemborg if you so choose. It isn't too difficult to eat healthy, either. You can also eat really bad if you wanted to.

All of this free. Free sodas (2 per customer, please). Free soft-serve ice cream.

Makes you want to sign up and come on over, right? Better like rice, it's served at every lunch and dinner.

Pictured is a lunch and a breakfast. The lunch is "beef fajitas". Strips of beef with peppers in some kind of sauce. Find a taco sauce pack, some shredded cheese and tomatoes off the salad bar and you're cooking. The "tortilla" is more like a pita. Rounded it out with Coke Light and Frizante (somewhat sparkling) mineral water. The breakfast pictured is my typical breakfast. Good-for-you cereal (only choices of cereal are muesli, fruit and fibre, all bran, corn flakes and occasional Golden Crisp knock-off), half a grapefruit, yogurt, juice and coffee. Ugly Deer came along for the ride that day!

You could always go to the board walk and pay for food, but that's another post...

Half Way There

Believe it or not, today is day 45 since "swiping in" to Kuwait. On the downhill slide... One of my room-mates who's been here for 6 months goes home later this week. He's quite excited.

Me pretty much same routine, every day.
Up at 0545, shower, walk to the DFAC for breakfast.
Back to the room for 30 minutes of internet and occasional Skype chat with Jolene. Walk to RC(S). Listen to the commander's update on the computer, go to CJ Med update and back to my "office" to push electrons. I'm currently working on the Kandahar City Major Incident Disaster Plan. I'm the "managing editor". Haven't seen one patient since I've been here.

Half of the time I work out at the NATO gym on the treadmill then go eat lunch. Other times I don't have time to work out mid-day and will just eat. Back to my desk until 1730 then off to the gym if I didn't work out. Walk back to the DFAC for dinner approximately 1930 then back to my room. Read Stars and Stripes, Skype with Jolene and read my e-mail. Off to sleep ~2130. Wash, rinse, repeat.

The only break I get are Fridays and Sundays. Friday is "Juma" or the Afghan religious day so we have "low ops" and I don't have to be to work until 1100 in the morning. Sunday is also "low ops" but have to be in a little earlier at 1000.

No days off.

As I said, downhill from here!