Monday, July 26, 2004
Items prohibited by US customs
Question from a Reader - Why does your work schedule change so much - from working 13 hour days to working every other day?
The schedule varies with the supply and demand of personnel. In Falluja, when we had separate incoming and outgoing check points which we were running mostly by ourselves, we needed 1.5 platoons to staff it at all times. We had three platoons available for that mission, so we had to work 13 hour days: 12 at the checkpoint and a half hour on either end for preparation and travel time.
When the checkpoint was combined for both incoming and outgoing traffic and we dropped back to support the ICDC, we only needed one platoon at a time so we could work 9 hour days: 8 hours at the checkpoint and hour for preparation and travel time.
When our mission got switched to patrolling, they needed one squad to patrol a route at all times. We had two squads available for that mission, so we went back to 13 hour days.
I can't go into the details of our current situation here in the International Zone, but it's similar supply and demand sort of stuff.
The schedule varies with the supply and demand of personnel. In Falluja, when we had separate incoming and outgoing check points which we were running mostly by ourselves, we needed 1.5 platoons to staff it at all times. We had three platoons available for that mission, so we had to work 13 hour days: 12 at the checkpoint and a half hour on either end for preparation and travel time.
When the checkpoint was combined for both incoming and outgoing traffic and we dropped back to support the ICDC, we only needed one platoon at a time so we could work 9 hour days: 8 hours at the checkpoint and hour for preparation and travel time.
When our mission got switched to patrolling, they needed one squad to patrol a route at all times. We had two squads available for that mission, so we went back to 13 hour days.
I can't go into the details of our current situation here in the International Zone, but it's similar supply and demand sort of stuff.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Street vendors - with candy they are selling and candy they've been given.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Down Time
We are losing our reputation as the hardest working platoon in the company – and deservedly so. The first two weeks we were here, we worked 13 hour days, and though that wasn’t much different than Falluja, the job was both more tedious and more stressful.
The first night we worked here, native faire was sent out to us, but since it sickened ( or was accused of sickening ) so many, it was taken off the menu. So, it was MREs and more MREs and chicken for a long time.
But now, we work every other day, if that, and when in the mood, go the infamous Al Rasheed. Though it stills functions as a hotel, one of the dining rooms has been transformed into a cafeteria for coalition military and contractors. While we were waiting in line, we were informed that there was a special line for the military. A VIP line for the guys with guns! Though I like the food, not everyone recommends making the trip.
We are trying to keep busy. I suggested to the platoon sergeant that we have some informal activities to keep the Soldiers from getting depressed, which can happen with too much down time. One of my suggestions was a scavenger hunt, but I quickly added that it shouldn’t have anything to do with orienteering!
I read, watch movies, write, run, and sleep. If you have any questions about what’s going on, please send me an email. I’d be happy to respond – and I need something to do!
Rapid Fielding Initiative
I guess the Army took a look at what Soldiers were buying for themselves and decided to buy it for them. We got issued Wiley X sunglasses, moisture wicking t shirts, comfortable boots, Nomex gloves, riggers belts, goggles that fit over glasses, and other clothing. Score one for the Army. We are, indeed, the best equipped military in the world.
We are losing our reputation as the hardest working platoon in the company – and deservedly so. The first two weeks we were here, we worked 13 hour days, and though that wasn’t much different than Falluja, the job was both more tedious and more stressful.
The first night we worked here, native faire was sent out to us, but since it sickened ( or was accused of sickening ) so many, it was taken off the menu. So, it was MREs and more MREs and chicken for a long time.
But now, we work every other day, if that, and when in the mood, go the infamous Al Rasheed. Though it stills functions as a hotel, one of the dining rooms has been transformed into a cafeteria for coalition military and contractors. While we were waiting in line, we were informed that there was a special line for the military. A VIP line for the guys with guns! Though I like the food, not everyone recommends making the trip.
We are trying to keep busy. I suggested to the platoon sergeant that we have some informal activities to keep the Soldiers from getting depressed, which can happen with too much down time. One of my suggestions was a scavenger hunt, but I quickly added that it shouldn’t have anything to do with orienteering!
I read, watch movies, write, run, and sleep. If you have any questions about what’s going on, please send me an email. I’d be happy to respond – and I need something to do!
Rapid Fielding Initiative
I guess the Army took a look at what Soldiers were buying for themselves and decided to buy it for them. We got issued Wiley X sunglasses, moisture wicking t shirts, comfortable boots, Nomex gloves, riggers belts, goggles that fit over glasses, and other clothing. Score one for the Army. We are, indeed, the best equipped military in the world.
This fountain, outside the Al Rasheed, is impressive. Photos are not allowed, so I took a picture of a picture postcard.
Monday, July 12, 2004
There is No Backdoor Draft
This so called "back door draft" critics talk about is a call up of Soldiers in the reserve, most of whom I’d guess are in the Individual Ready Reserve or IRR. I was in the IRR for almost five years and all the while, I knew that I could be called up. The IRR is made up of Soldiers who are not on active duty or doing the one weekend a month thing, but still have time left on their contract. All initial contracts are for eight years. In the Guard, most Soldiers go 6 x 2, that is 6 years of one weekend a month and two years in the IRR. Many do this so that they can take advantage of college benefits. I already had a degree and went 3 x 5. I would have gone 0 x 8 if the option was available. I figured train me up and give me a call when you need me.
With the Army, like so many other, large, institutions, it’s a numbers game. I volunteered for Operation Enduring Freedom when I was in the IIR. As a medic, I thought for sure they’d take me. I think it was too much trouble for them; maybe if I spoke Farsi, they’d take me, but to pull people out, one at a time, I guess it wasn’t worth it. Now that things are getting tight, it’s worth it.
This criticism of the military and the administration is unwarranted.
This so called "back door draft" critics talk about is a call up of Soldiers in the reserve, most of whom I’d guess are in the Individual Ready Reserve or IRR. I was in the IRR for almost five years and all the while, I knew that I could be called up. The IRR is made up of Soldiers who are not on active duty or doing the one weekend a month thing, but still have time left on their contract. All initial contracts are for eight years. In the Guard, most Soldiers go 6 x 2, that is 6 years of one weekend a month and two years in the IRR. Many do this so that they can take advantage of college benefits. I already had a degree and went 3 x 5. I would have gone 0 x 8 if the option was available. I figured train me up and give me a call when you need me.
With the Army, like so many other, large, institutions, it’s a numbers game. I volunteered for Operation Enduring Freedom when I was in the IIR. As a medic, I thought for sure they’d take me. I think it was too much trouble for them; maybe if I spoke Farsi, they’d take me, but to pull people out, one at a time, I guess it wasn’t worth it. Now that things are getting tight, it’s worth it.
This criticism of the military and the administration is unwarranted.
Soldier Profiles - Jeff
Jeff is not a tanker; he’s a support guy attached from battalion and he’s proud of it. He started out in the Air Force, which he says is a much more civilized branch of service. This is because, as he says, the Air Force lives on bases and rewards intelligence, while the Army lives in the field and rewards aggression. He claims that while in the Air Force, his feet never left concrete and he spent every night at home. He says that people join the Air Force and the Navy, for an education and/ or a career, and people join the Army for a job. I think people also join the Army for advancement: the competition is not as tough and it’s so big there’s a lot of room between the bottom and the top of the pyramid. Yes, the Army has more squared away personnel than any other branch of the service, but measured as a percentage, it’s badly beaten. The Army travels heavy with a 13 to one ratio of support to personnel in the field. Of course, people join the Marines for one reason: to be a Marine. That makes them, by far, America’s premier fighting force, with the possible exceptions of the 82nd, 101st, and 10th Mountain.
When I told Jeff that I wanted to be in combat arms, he said, “Judge you aimed for the ground and you didn’t miss.” Jeff calls me “an educated man”, though I know I’m short on the former and I will likely never be the latter. He also likes to tease me and others about my job – always over inflating my economic status: “Judge could buy you!” When I suggested a swear jar as a cure for a newly acquired vice, he responded, “Judge, you’ll swear yourself right into a new Summer cottage.” A comment from a friend the other day, based on Jeff’s constant barrage: “It’s Wendell Colin Judge, everyone’s faaaavorite independently wealthy Soldier.”
Jeff claims he’s a liberal; and has been active in a few unions including holding the position of president and shop steward. But his views are rather eclectic:
“Asking the government to solve your problems causes collective suffering.”
When asked about the morality of something he responding, “It’s against the Bible and an abomination in the eyes of God.”
“You like to pick and choose, huh [Jeff]?”
“Don’t we all, Judge? Don’t we all?”
Referring to making change in the military he said, “Don’t yell at the machine; yell at the people running the machine.”
“The Moral Majority is so far to the right it squeaks, but when they get caught it’s, ‘Oh well, we’re all human.’”
On looking at other girls before marrying his wife: “I thought the grass was greener, but it turned out to be Astro turf.”
Jeff makes being here interesting and a lot of times, I think he’s the one who got the education.
Jeff is not a tanker; he’s a support guy attached from battalion and he’s proud of it. He started out in the Air Force, which he says is a much more civilized branch of service. This is because, as he says, the Air Force lives on bases and rewards intelligence, while the Army lives in the field and rewards aggression. He claims that while in the Air Force, his feet never left concrete and he spent every night at home. He says that people join the Air Force and the Navy, for an education and/ or a career, and people join the Army for a job. I think people also join the Army for advancement: the competition is not as tough and it’s so big there’s a lot of room between the bottom and the top of the pyramid. Yes, the Army has more squared away personnel than any other branch of the service, but measured as a percentage, it’s badly beaten. The Army travels heavy with a 13 to one ratio of support to personnel in the field. Of course, people join the Marines for one reason: to be a Marine. That makes them, by far, America’s premier fighting force, with the possible exceptions of the 82nd, 101st, and 10th Mountain.
When I told Jeff that I wanted to be in combat arms, he said, “Judge you aimed for the ground and you didn’t miss.” Jeff calls me “an educated man”, though I know I’m short on the former and I will likely never be the latter. He also likes to tease me and others about my job – always over inflating my economic status: “Judge could buy you!” When I suggested a swear jar as a cure for a newly acquired vice, he responded, “Judge, you’ll swear yourself right into a new Summer cottage.” A comment from a friend the other day, based on Jeff’s constant barrage: “It’s Wendell Colin Judge, everyone’s faaaavorite independently wealthy Soldier.”
Jeff claims he’s a liberal; and has been active in a few unions including holding the position of president and shop steward. But his views are rather eclectic:
“Asking the government to solve your problems causes collective suffering.”
When asked about the morality of something he responding, “It’s against the Bible and an abomination in the eyes of God.”
“You like to pick and choose, huh [Jeff]?”
“Don’t we all, Judge? Don’t we all?”
Referring to making change in the military he said, “Don’t yell at the machine; yell at the people running the machine.”
“The Moral Majority is so far to the right it squeaks, but when they get caught it’s, ‘Oh well, we’re all human.’”
On looking at other girls before marrying his wife: “I thought the grass was greener, but it turned out to be Astro turf.”
Jeff makes being here interesting and a lot of times, I think he’s the one who got the education.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
I got Pictures Back from the Developer
Before I purchased a digital camera, I was using disposable ones and I got the photos back and have updated the blog. Please feel free to go back through the archives and check them out. I've tried to insert the pictures around the dates that they were taken.
Before I purchased a digital camera, I was using disposable ones and I got the photos back and have updated the blog. Please feel free to go back through the archives and check them out. I've tried to insert the pictures around the dates that they were taken.
The Fourth of July
In comparison, I think this war is more just than the Revolution. Let’s see: removing a genocidal tyrant or blowing some guy’s head off because I don’t like paying taxes without the right to vote. Still, I wanted to listen to Paul Harvey’s annual reading of the history of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but the net was too slow. Our company is celebrating by showing Independence Day (ID4).
One Third the Way There
Using the lowest common denominator method tells me that the difference between a quarter and a third is a twelve or in the context of one year - one month. Whether, psychologically, it is a good thing or a bad thing is not quantifiable.
More on Promotions
Back at Fort Dix, there was a big shake up with the team leaders, in two of the three squads, all but one of the sergeants became drivers and the Specialists became team leaders aka truck commanders (it was in this reorganization, that I was switched from a driver to a gunner). This was done because leadership decided that the most qualified, not the highest ranking, should be in charge of each truck. The newly appointed truck commanders were given a temporary corporal rank – a lateral promotion – soon after we arrived in Iraq. The sergeant gunners and drivers are still being paid as sergeants and I don’t have a problem with that. But the truck commanders are still being paid as E4s. This is because the promotions are based on slots held back at our respective armories. Now, back at the armory, we are training – when not screwing around doing nothing. Here, we are involved in a war, or at least as close as we are going to come to one for a while. We are doing now what we have been training to do for years. It’s wrong that these team leaders, who were put in charge for their leadership ability, not the number of points they accumulated, are still E4’s.
We now have Female Soldiers
Until recently, our company has been made up of only males. This is because our company is made up of Soldiers from combat arms units, that is armor, artillery, and infantry, and by law, females are prohibited from serving in combat arms. Now that we are MPs or what they call ILO (in lieu of) MPs, we can take on female Soldiers. At first, many of the males said ‘we don’t need no [insert words I’ve never heard females called here]’. But, it didn’t take long for the guys to start fawning all over them and share impressive war stories: “When we were in Falluja…”
In comparison, I think this war is more just than the Revolution. Let’s see: removing a genocidal tyrant or blowing some guy’s head off because I don’t like paying taxes without the right to vote. Still, I wanted to listen to Paul Harvey’s annual reading of the history of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but the net was too slow. Our company is celebrating by showing Independence Day (ID4).
One Third the Way There
Using the lowest common denominator method tells me that the difference between a quarter and a third is a twelve or in the context of one year - one month. Whether, psychologically, it is a good thing or a bad thing is not quantifiable.
More on Promotions
Back at Fort Dix, there was a big shake up with the team leaders, in two of the three squads, all but one of the sergeants became drivers and the Specialists became team leaders aka truck commanders (it was in this reorganization, that I was switched from a driver to a gunner). This was done because leadership decided that the most qualified, not the highest ranking, should be in charge of each truck. The newly appointed truck commanders were given a temporary corporal rank – a lateral promotion – soon after we arrived in Iraq. The sergeant gunners and drivers are still being paid as sergeants and I don’t have a problem with that. But the truck commanders are still being paid as E4s. This is because the promotions are based on slots held back at our respective armories. Now, back at the armory, we are training – when not screwing around doing nothing. Here, we are involved in a war, or at least as close as we are going to come to one for a while. We are doing now what we have been training to do for years. It’s wrong that these team leaders, who were put in charge for their leadership ability, not the number of points they accumulated, are still E4’s.
We now have Female Soldiers
Until recently, our company has been made up of only males. This is because our company is made up of Soldiers from combat arms units, that is armor, artillery, and infantry, and by law, females are prohibited from serving in combat arms. Now that we are MPs or what they call ILO (in lieu of) MPs, we can take on female Soldiers. At first, many of the males said ‘we don’t need no [insert words I’ve never heard females called here]’. But, it didn’t take long for the guys to start fawning all over them and share impressive war stories: “When we were in Falluja…”
I found this can in the "give away" bin. And I put it back after I took this picture. Please do not send.
A street in Baghdad's shopping district.
A Soldier and some kids having their picture taken.
Advice from a Combat Stress Control Unit: "Stay Calm, Stay Flexible"
An Iraqi shop inside a FOB.
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Our new quarters with optional truck corral.
Ubiquitous Gunfire
The US was anticipating attacks on June 30th despite the early handover. There were a few bursts outside our FOB that day and after some concern we remembered that Iraqis celebrate by firing their AKs into the air. In Falluja, the Iraqi General in charge drove up to our checkpoint from the city and assured us that the gunfire we heard after a US convoy rolled through was indeed celebratory. He went on to explain that they celebrate just about anything with gunfire and that a man will shoot a gun in the air after he has sex with his wife. I explained to the general’s interpreter that, in the United States we also shoot guns to celebrate holidays such a New Years, but it has been outlawed because the bullets come down and hurt people. He said that they have the same problem here. Later, we heard that five people were injured due to the celebration.
Hajji
This is the nickname given to Iraqi persons. It can be used as a noun, “I bought it from a Hajji” or “Don’t let the Hajjis steal your water.” or as an adjective: “a Hajji shop”; “a Hajji barber”. No one knows who came up with this nickname. We think they are called Hajjis because either:
1. A hajji is one who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
2. Hajji was the name of Johnny Quest’s friend (yes, I know he was Indian).
John Wayne addressing someone “pilgrim” isn’t the same as calling someone a Hajji. Wayne called them pilgrim to their face and meant it more like “buddy”. The way Hajji is used, it’s a bit more derogatory.
The US was anticipating attacks on June 30th despite the early handover. There were a few bursts outside our FOB that day and after some concern we remembered that Iraqis celebrate by firing their AKs into the air. In Falluja, the Iraqi General in charge drove up to our checkpoint from the city and assured us that the gunfire we heard after a US convoy rolled through was indeed celebratory. He went on to explain that they celebrate just about anything with gunfire and that a man will shoot a gun in the air after he has sex with his wife. I explained to the general’s interpreter that, in the United States we also shoot guns to celebrate holidays such a New Years, but it has been outlawed because the bullets come down and hurt people. He said that they have the same problem here. Later, we heard that five people were injured due to the celebration.
Hajji
This is the nickname given to Iraqi persons. It can be used as a noun, “I bought it from a Hajji” or “Don’t let the Hajjis steal your water.” or as an adjective: “a Hajji shop”; “a Hajji barber”. No one knows who came up with this nickname. We think they are called Hajjis because either:
1. A hajji is one who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
2. Hajji was the name of Johnny Quest’s friend (yes, I know he was Indian).
John Wayne addressing someone “pilgrim” isn’t the same as calling someone a Hajji. Wayne called them pilgrim to their face and meant it more like “buddy”. The way Hajji is used, it’s a bit more derogatory.
Friday, July 02, 2004
Cute Message from Home"I downloaded it last night ... The boys loved it. They tend to talk to you while the video is playing like you're really here. They ask for it to be played again and then they tell you more stuff."
A young vendor manicures his nails at a "tourist" market.
Finding some shade during down time.
Another shot - this one with us awake - under our favorite shade tree.
Here's my new area. At 63 square feet, it's the largest space I've had to date. The wire, at top, is an antenna which leads to a shortwave radio which some folks at work gave me. I listen to the BBC, Voice of America, and Freedom Radio (Armed Forces Network).
