Thursday, December 30, 2004
Ghost Company Update
Here’s an email written by our company commander and distributed to our families. Though I believe OPSEC was followed, I sanitized it for good measure. My comments will follow later.
ALCON:
It has been quite some time since I wrote to this group, and I hope all are doing fine. I extend a Christmas greeting to all.
One [Ghost] Company soldier was wounded in action yesterday during a rocket attack on [some place]. [Carl] received a shrapnel wound to the left thigh. Top and I spent about 1/2 hour with him today, and he is fine. [Burt] had a temporary hearing loss after the blast, but re-gained all hearing on [some day]. We got lucky as only one soldier was nearby when the rocket hit, and he was shielded by a vehicle. The loss to our equipment was tremendous as we lost three more Up Armor HMMWVs (M1114) and a number of other pieces of equipment. The rocket landed in front of a row of vehicles and started them on fire. [Steve] saved one vehicle by jumping in it and driving off. The others were destroyed when the ammunition, grenades, and anti-tank weapons started cooking off. This fireworks show went on for about two hours before the fire department finally put the blaze out. The water used to extinguish the fire was pushed into the soldiers' living quarters damaging some personal gear and equipment. It is amazing no one was seriously injured. Thank God!
[Ghost] Company continues to operate in Iraq, now in our tenth month in theater. We have gone through a number of changes since our separation from the Iraq Survey Group in early [some date]. [X] and [Y] Platoons remain at [our FOB] working now for [Zuckerman] out of [some place]. The old higher headquarters … moved to a new mission [some place] back on [some date]. [X] and [Y] Platoons' battalion HQ, [Zulu] MP Battalion out of [some place], departs theater soon. Both parts of the company welcomed a new Brigade HQ back on the [some date] when the [Zenith] MP Brigade headed back to [some place], and the [Zebra] MP Brigade from [some place] took over. The new Brigade Commander visited our company back on the [some date] for a short brief from myself. He and the Command Sergeant Major visited with troops after the brief.
[Ghost] Company now has soldiers living in [n] different locations in Iraq, including [some places]. We are conducting all types of operations from force protection to convoy escort to special unspecified security missions of strategic value.
We are proud of all.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
[The Commander]
Here’s an email written by our company commander and distributed to our families. Though I believe OPSEC was followed, I sanitized it for good measure. My comments will follow later.
ALCON:
It has been quite some time since I wrote to this group, and I hope all are doing fine. I extend a Christmas greeting to all.
One [Ghost] Company soldier was wounded in action yesterday during a rocket attack on [some place]. [Carl] received a shrapnel wound to the left thigh. Top and I spent about 1/2 hour with him today, and he is fine. [Burt] had a temporary hearing loss after the blast, but re-gained all hearing on [some day]. We got lucky as only one soldier was nearby when the rocket hit, and he was shielded by a vehicle. The loss to our equipment was tremendous as we lost three more Up Armor HMMWVs (M1114) and a number of other pieces of equipment. The rocket landed in front of a row of vehicles and started them on fire. [Steve] saved one vehicle by jumping in it and driving off. The others were destroyed when the ammunition, grenades, and anti-tank weapons started cooking off. This fireworks show went on for about two hours before the fire department finally put the blaze out. The water used to extinguish the fire was pushed into the soldiers' living quarters damaging some personal gear and equipment. It is amazing no one was seriously injured. Thank God!
[Ghost] Company continues to operate in Iraq, now in our tenth month in theater. We have gone through a number of changes since our separation from the Iraq Survey Group in early [some date]. [X] and [Y] Platoons remain at [our FOB] working now for [Zuckerman] out of [some place]. The old higher headquarters … moved to a new mission [some place] back on [some date]. [X] and [Y] Platoons' battalion HQ, [Zulu] MP Battalion out of [some place], departs theater soon. Both parts of the company welcomed a new Brigade HQ back on the [some date] when the [Zenith] MP Brigade headed back to [some place], and the [Zebra] MP Brigade from [some place] took over. The new Brigade Commander visited our company back on the [some date] for a short brief from myself. He and the Command Sergeant Major visited with troops after the brief.
[Ghost] Company now has soldiers living in [n] different locations in Iraq, including [some places]. We are conducting all types of operations from force protection to convoy escort to special unspecified security missions of strategic value.
We are proud of all.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
[The Commander]
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Movies
Bud has one of the biggest US licensed video collection in the platoon. “I don’t buy Hajji,” says Bud. His reasons probably have more to do with a concern for quality than prejudice; one Soldier says he buy Hajji movies because he thinks the proceeds may fund the insurgents.
Iraqi DVDs are of two types: copies of movies which have been released on DVD and traditional bootlegs - recordings of a theatrical showing of the film. Both come from Malaysia and, accordingly, have subtitles in English, Malay, Thai, and Chinese, though the English sometimes seems to have been translated into two or three other languages before it gets to the screen. The picture on the bootlegs can be grainy and especially suffers when the screen is obscured by a patron on their way for popcorn. The sound is sometimes muffled, but the audience’s laughter – as well as their commentary - can be readily heard.
I find selection to be the biggest problem; action, thriller, and horror titles make up most of the choices. “Starship Troopers” - the celluloid standard of Soldiers - is one of the better movies available here, though popular new releases are constantly added to the mix: “Spiderman 2”, “Anchorman”, “The Terminal”, and “Collateral” have all been distributed here on the heels of their theatrical release in the US. When we hear that a movie will come out on Friday, we figure we will have it by the following Wednesday.
Mindful of the economy of buying from local vendors, I emailed the Motion Picture Association of America to inquire about their legality and importation into the US. I received no response and realized that Iraq probably has no laws against such videos. My question was answered when I went on leave: during our briefing, we were told that US Customs limits importation to one video of each title, presumably to prevent importation for commercial purposes.
Quote
Bud: I wish I was back in Falluja muzzle checking Hajjis.
Colin [baiting]: There’s a Hajji in the bathroom you could muzzle check.
Bud: Who? [The interpreter]? He’s not a Hajji.
Colin: He’s not? Bud: No, he’s Iraqi, but he’s not a Hajji.
Colin: So all Hajjis are Iraqis, but not all Iraqis are Hajjis?
Ensemble: Right.
Actually, that’s not too far from something I heard on the BBC World Service. During an interview, an executive from Al Arabiya(?) Television generalized, “All Muslims are not terrorists, but unfortunately, all terrorists are Muslims.”
Bud has one of the biggest US licensed video collection in the platoon. “I don’t buy Hajji,” says Bud. His reasons probably have more to do with a concern for quality than prejudice; one Soldier says he buy Hajji movies because he thinks the proceeds may fund the insurgents.
Iraqi DVDs are of two types: copies of movies which have been released on DVD and traditional bootlegs - recordings of a theatrical showing of the film. Both come from Malaysia and, accordingly, have subtitles in English, Malay, Thai, and Chinese, though the English sometimes seems to have been translated into two or three other languages before it gets to the screen. The picture on the bootlegs can be grainy and especially suffers when the screen is obscured by a patron on their way for popcorn. The sound is sometimes muffled, but the audience’s laughter – as well as their commentary - can be readily heard.
I find selection to be the biggest problem; action, thriller, and horror titles make up most of the choices. “Starship Troopers” - the celluloid standard of Soldiers - is one of the better movies available here, though popular new releases are constantly added to the mix: “Spiderman 2”, “Anchorman”, “The Terminal”, and “Collateral” have all been distributed here on the heels of their theatrical release in the US. When we hear that a movie will come out on Friday, we figure we will have it by the following Wednesday.
Mindful of the economy of buying from local vendors, I emailed the Motion Picture Association of America to inquire about their legality and importation into the US. I received no response and realized that Iraq probably has no laws against such videos. My question was answered when I went on leave: during our briefing, we were told that US Customs limits importation to one video of each title, presumably to prevent importation for commercial purposes.
Quote
Bud: I wish I was back in Falluja muzzle checking Hajjis.
Colin [baiting]: There’s a Hajji in the bathroom you could muzzle check.
Bud: Who? [The interpreter]? He’s not a Hajji.
Colin: He’s not? Bud: No, he’s Iraqi, but he’s not a Hajji.
Colin: So all Hajjis are Iraqis, but not all Iraqis are Hajjis?
Ensemble: Right.
Actually, that’s not too far from something I heard on the BBC World Service. During an interview, an executive from Al Arabiya(?) Television generalized, “All Muslims are not terrorists, but unfortunately, all terrorists are Muslims.”
Gurkhas
Gurkhas, professional fighters from Nepal, provide most of the site security in the I Zone. They are very friendly and approachable. I talked at length with one and his English was very good.
I asked if all Gurkhas knew English as well as he did. He said that some do, but added that he once received a poor evaluation because he spoke English “too much”: “You bloody little Gurkha, who do you think you are?” he recounted. Though some carry their traditional knives - khukuris, all have an M-16, AK-47, or MP-5.
He was very well informed about world current events, much more so than your average US Soldier - or average US citizen. He gave me a history of the Gurkhas. His father and grandfather were Gurkhas, but because there is less demand for Gurkhas in the military, they have signed on with private security firms. Heredity also determines one’s vocation, here, in Iraq. My barber’s father and uncle are barbers. I remember in history class, this practice was portrayed as very backward.
Gurkhas, professional fighters from Nepal, provide most of the site security in the I Zone. They are very friendly and approachable. I talked at length with one and his English was very good.
I asked if all Gurkhas knew English as well as he did. He said that some do, but added that he once received a poor evaluation because he spoke English “too much”: “You bloody little Gurkha, who do you think you are?” he recounted. Though some carry their traditional knives - khukuris, all have an M-16, AK-47, or MP-5.
He was very well informed about world current events, much more so than your average US Soldier - or average US citizen. He gave me a history of the Gurkhas. His father and grandfather were Gurkhas, but because there is less demand for Gurkhas in the military, they have signed on with private security firms. Heredity also determines one’s vocation, here, in Iraq. My barber’s father and uncle are barbers. I remember in history class, this practice was portrayed as very backward.
A Gurkha stands guard. This is not their typical uniform, but it is the sharpest.
Monday, December 27, 2004
Equipment for OIF3
Perhaps you or someone you know is coming over here for OIF3. When we were mobilized, a popular question was, “What do we need to take with us?” For ideas on what to bring, we looked at websites and talked to people who had been here. Since we were going into the unknown, there was mentality of - maybe a fear of - not wanting to go without. A December issue of Newsweek magazine reported that the average deployed Soldier spends $2000 of his own money on equipment. I think that’s way high, but that was for OIF1, when the Army’s logistical system was just getting started.
Some Soldiers may think, “If I really needed this, the Army would issue me one.” And if you are in a highly deployable unit like the 82nd Airborne, you’d be right. But if you are in a guard unit, especially a guard unit that does not deploy as a round out unit for a regular Army unit, you may want to pick up a few things. Of course you don’t want to buy what you will get issued. But how do you know what you will get issued? You don’t. Whenever we asked leadership about something we thought we might need and, we’d be told, “You’ll get that at the MOB site.” Our MOB (mobilization) site was Ft. Dix, but that response to our inquiry became a sarcastic cliché which continued to be used well past our time in New Jersey.
This briefing on the Army’s Rapid Fielding Initiative should give you an idea of what you might be issued. Note that page 10 lists what items are issued to all Soldiers in FY 2004. We did not receive the Advanced Combat Helmet, so we still wear the Kevlar version of the old Wermacht issue. Jeff commented, “Well, they met us half way: they [measured our heads].” Page 11 lists additional items issued to BCT (brigade combat team) Soldiers and page 17 lists additional items to be issued in FY 2005. Note that the items marked with an asterisk are only issued to BCT Soldiers.
Here’s what I bought before we left Ft. Dix in March:
3 point sling
Combat Eye glasses
Drop Holster & Lanyard
Elbow Pads
Goggles
Gloves
GPS
Knee Pads
Moisture Wicking T-Shirts
Mosquito Netting
Multi Tool
Riggers Belt
“SurFire” type flashlight
Here’s a list of what was issued to us through RFI:
Cold Weather Cap
COTS Socks
Elbow pads
Fleece Bibs
Goggles
Glove System
Hydration System
Infantry Combat Boot Type II (AF Desert)
Improved Hot Weather Desert Boot
Knee pads
Moisture Wicking T-Shirts
Rigger’s Belt
Silk Weight Underwear
So, I ended up with two sets of: goggles, knee and elbow pads, moisture wicking t-shirts, rigger’s belts. The issued boots are very high quality, so if you sponsor a Soldier and he asks you for a pair, ask him what’s wrong with the ones he got at the RFI. Now, it’s possible that they didn’t have your Soldier’s size. This was the case for Kip who wears a 7.5 wide. They didn’t have his size at Dix or the RFI, so he bought his own. He finally was issued two pairs in July.
Here are my recommendations on equipment. I’ll mention brands when applicable.
3 point sling – M-4’s are so light that it’s not needed, but it is useful for the M-16.
Braided Blousing Bands – not the wide ones – the ones that are made up of three braided pieces of cloth covered elastic. Very comfortable!
Butt stock magazine pouch – if you have to carry a “long gun” around the FOB, you’ll need to take ammo with you.
Drop holster and lanyard - if you are going to be issued an M9 pistol, this is handy and comfortable. I got two holster clips: one stays on my DCU riggers belt, the other on my pistol belt which I wear when I’m in PT’s. Spend the extra for a lanyard with swivels.
Eyewear – If you don’t wear glasses, you can get by with close fitting Wiley X’s which may be issued to you. The lenses are made of poly carbonate material which is strong enough to stop small fragments from getting in your eyes. If you are a turret gunner, you are still going to need goggles because dust and small rocks are going to get into your eyes when you orient your turret off to the side.
If you do wear glasses, you aren’t interested in making a fashion statement, and don’t mind being asked if you are wearing optical inserts for your gas mask, go with combat eyeglasses. A lot of guys back in my light infantry unit wore them. They are my full prescription, which I usually don’t wear, since I’m one of those sophomores who believe that “corrective” lenses only cause a cycle of weaker eyes and stronger lenses. My usual prescription allows me see about 20/40 - good enough to pass the driver’s license test. I got the transitional lenses, which are great. You can get corrective lenses for Wiley X glasses, but I don’t know about transition lenses.
Also, anti fog / anti dust compound for you goggles and glasses is a good idea.
Flashlight – a “SurFire” type light is very handy to direct traffic and illuminate an area in general. Don’t get the $90 Z2 like I did; the $35 G2 is all you need. You also want a “MagLite” type light for routine use because the batteries and bulbs for the “SurFire” don’t last very long.
Gloves – the issued Nomex, CVC (combat vehicle crewman) gloves are great.
GPS – I used to use mine pretty often in Falluja, but it’s certainly a nice to have.
Helmet Liner - If you don’t get issued the advanced combat helmet, a helmet suspension system is worth the money. I bought an Aero. Two pieces have broken on it since it has gotten cold here, but the company is sending me replacements. There are two draw backs to getting one: if your helmet is a little small or fits just right, you are probably going to need a bigger one to accommodate the system. Don’t worry, there are plenty of supply sergeants selling brand new ones on eBay; I got mine for $50. Second, the gel filled pads in the system get hard when it’s cold. Bring your helmet in from the truck every night (like you should anyway) and this shouldn’t be a problem.
Insect Repellent – the Army issue cream works well for everything but flies. For flies, Natropel seem to work well, also Skin So Soft – if you put it on thick – is OK too.
Knee pads & Elbow pads – I used them until I got used to riding in the turret.
Knife – get one with a serrated edge so you can cut seat belts.
Mini Flashlight – this is an LED light that can be attached to you ID tag chain or your DCU collar.
Multi tool – Leatherman, Gerber, whatever.
Riggers Belt – you can’t hang your pistol on the thin BDU belt.
Rubber mat – this helps to cushion the hard and sometimes slick steel floor of the “gunner’s station”. Mine is the old fashioned type made of used tires.
Soft Ammo Pouch for SAW – To fire the SAW in the standing or kneeling position is difficult with the 200 round plastic drums; you are trained to hold the bipod in your non firing hand in order to steady the weapon. This looks cool, but it’s hard to control. The soft ammo pouch allows you to hold the hand guard assembly with your non firing hand and gain better control.
Tactical Vest – this is handy to wear over your IBA to carry your magazines and other mission accoutrements, and if you are a gunner, you can attach your deltoid and side shields to it. This way, when you aren’t on mission, but you have to wear your body armor, you can leave the tactical vest and 15 lbs of extra weight behind.
Umbrella – I got some good use out of this. Some other Soldiers got some use too, but that’s on the down low.
“Under Armor” type moisture wicking shirts – the issued ones are very itchy, but I have a thing for 100% cotton.
Walk About Radios – these are handy and some GPS models have them built in.
Watch – an accurate watch is helpful for setting radio time.
Whistle or Air horn – to direct traffic, mostly to direct them to stop or get the heck away from you.
You don’t need: a Ranger Pace Counter, Ranger Handbook, Anything made to go specifically on an LBE (load bearing equipment) because you won’t be wearing an LBE. It sounds counterintuitive, but you also don’t need a “Camelbak” type hydration system - almost none of us have used them since Kuwait. We drink bottled water. We are doing MP type work, and most of the time we stay within 20 meters of our vehicles.
Comforts: Laptop, DVD Player, and video games. Get some canned air to keep the dust out of them. You’ll also need a converter since electricity here runs at 220 volts. Because of this, don’t buy appliances like, TVs, Microwaves, AC units, heaters, or lamps until you get here; converters can only handle so much juice. Also, remember, when you are moving in, someone’s going to be moving out, so there will be bargains.
You may not want to keep track of all this extra stuff at your state side training site, so it might be better to give a loved one a list of web links where the items can be purchased online and sent as you need them. Keep in mind that, it took us three weeks, once we were theatre, to get a mailing address. Be sure to write down the sizes of all of your issued clothing and equipment, keeping one list with you, one list at home, and one list with you supervisor.
All equipment should be desert cammo, tan, or - least desirable – green in color. Do not buy black! One, it will get hot, especially gloves. Two: if it’s tan or green, you can write your name on it. Imagine that almost every piece of equipment we have is like a black suitcase on the luggage carousel. And though we haven’t had a problem with theft, there is no lost and found here. People are more likely to turn something if there’s a name on it.
I’ll come back and update this when I think of something to add.
Update
Email from OIC of National Guard RFI:
The brief you saw on line is what will be issued. All soldiers get some items. Soldiers in BCTs get additional equipment. All items are issued pending priority of the unit's mission and availability of the items at time of issue. PEO Soldier and NGB are working hard to ensure that every soldier deploying gets the RFI suite of equipment prior to deploying or during RSOI in Kuwait. Use the brief as a reference for what will be issued to future deploying soldiers. It may vary some but it should be mostly accurate.
CPT Clay Williamson
Perhaps you or someone you know is coming over here for OIF3. When we were mobilized, a popular question was, “What do we need to take with us?” For ideas on what to bring, we looked at websites and talked to people who had been here. Since we were going into the unknown, there was mentality of - maybe a fear of - not wanting to go without. A December issue of Newsweek magazine reported that the average deployed Soldier spends $2000 of his own money on equipment. I think that’s way high, but that was for OIF1, when the Army’s logistical system was just getting started.
Some Soldiers may think, “If I really needed this, the Army would issue me one.” And if you are in a highly deployable unit like the 82nd Airborne, you’d be right. But if you are in a guard unit, especially a guard unit that does not deploy as a round out unit for a regular Army unit, you may want to pick up a few things. Of course you don’t want to buy what you will get issued. But how do you know what you will get issued? You don’t. Whenever we asked leadership about something we thought we might need and, we’d be told, “You’ll get that at the MOB site.” Our MOB (mobilization) site was Ft. Dix, but that response to our inquiry became a sarcastic cliché which continued to be used well past our time in New Jersey.
This briefing on the Army’s Rapid Fielding Initiative should give you an idea of what you might be issued. Note that page 10 lists what items are issued to all Soldiers in FY 2004. We did not receive the Advanced Combat Helmet, so we still wear the Kevlar version of the old Wermacht issue. Jeff commented, “Well, they met us half way: they [measured our heads].” Page 11 lists additional items issued to BCT (brigade combat team) Soldiers and page 17 lists additional items to be issued in FY 2005. Note that the items marked with an asterisk are only issued to BCT Soldiers.
Here’s what I bought before we left Ft. Dix in March:
3 point sling
Combat Eye glasses
Drop Holster & Lanyard
Elbow Pads
Goggles
Gloves
GPS
Knee Pads
Moisture Wicking T-Shirts
Mosquito Netting
Multi Tool
Riggers Belt
“SurFire” type flashlight
Here’s a list of what was issued to us through RFI:
Cold Weather Cap
COTS Socks
Elbow pads
Fleece Bibs
Goggles
Glove System
Hydration System
Infantry Combat Boot Type II (AF Desert)
Improved Hot Weather Desert Boot
Knee pads
Moisture Wicking T-Shirts
Rigger’s Belt
Silk Weight Underwear
So, I ended up with two sets of: goggles, knee and elbow pads, moisture wicking t-shirts, rigger’s belts. The issued boots are very high quality, so if you sponsor a Soldier and he asks you for a pair, ask him what’s wrong with the ones he got at the RFI. Now, it’s possible that they didn’t have your Soldier’s size. This was the case for Kip who wears a 7.5 wide. They didn’t have his size at Dix or the RFI, so he bought his own. He finally was issued two pairs in July.
Here are my recommendations on equipment. I’ll mention brands when applicable.
3 point sling – M-4’s are so light that it’s not needed, but it is useful for the M-16.
Braided Blousing Bands – not the wide ones – the ones that are made up of three braided pieces of cloth covered elastic. Very comfortable!
Butt stock magazine pouch – if you have to carry a “long gun” around the FOB, you’ll need to take ammo with you.
Drop holster and lanyard - if you are going to be issued an M9 pistol, this is handy and comfortable. I got two holster clips: one stays on my DCU riggers belt, the other on my pistol belt which I wear when I’m in PT’s. Spend the extra for a lanyard with swivels.
Eyewear – If you don’t wear glasses, you can get by with close fitting Wiley X’s which may be issued to you. The lenses are made of poly carbonate material which is strong enough to stop small fragments from getting in your eyes. If you are a turret gunner, you are still going to need goggles because dust and small rocks are going to get into your eyes when you orient your turret off to the side.
If you do wear glasses, you aren’t interested in making a fashion statement, and don’t mind being asked if you are wearing optical inserts for your gas mask, go with combat eyeglasses. A lot of guys back in my light infantry unit wore them. They are my full prescription, which I usually don’t wear, since I’m one of those sophomores who believe that “corrective” lenses only cause a cycle of weaker eyes and stronger lenses. My usual prescription allows me see about 20/40 - good enough to pass the driver’s license test. I got the transitional lenses, which are great. You can get corrective lenses for Wiley X glasses, but I don’t know about transition lenses.
Also, anti fog / anti dust compound for you goggles and glasses is a good idea.
Flashlight – a “SurFire” type light is very handy to direct traffic and illuminate an area in general. Don’t get the $90 Z2 like I did; the $35 G2 is all you need. You also want a “MagLite” type light for routine use because the batteries and bulbs for the “SurFire” don’t last very long.
Gloves – the issued Nomex, CVC (combat vehicle crewman) gloves are great.
GPS – I used to use mine pretty often in Falluja, but it’s certainly a nice to have.
Helmet Liner - If you don’t get issued the advanced combat helmet, a helmet suspension system is worth the money. I bought an Aero. Two pieces have broken on it since it has gotten cold here, but the company is sending me replacements. There are two draw backs to getting one: if your helmet is a little small or fits just right, you are probably going to need a bigger one to accommodate the system. Don’t worry, there are plenty of supply sergeants selling brand new ones on eBay; I got mine for $50. Second, the gel filled pads in the system get hard when it’s cold. Bring your helmet in from the truck every night (like you should anyway) and this shouldn’t be a problem.
Insect Repellent – the Army issue cream works well for everything but flies. For flies, Natropel seem to work well, also Skin So Soft – if you put it on thick – is OK too.
Knee pads & Elbow pads – I used them until I got used to riding in the turret.
Knife – get one with a serrated edge so you can cut seat belts.
Mini Flashlight – this is an LED light that can be attached to you ID tag chain or your DCU collar.
Multi tool – Leatherman, Gerber, whatever.
Riggers Belt – you can’t hang your pistol on the thin BDU belt.
Rubber mat – this helps to cushion the hard and sometimes slick steel floor of the “gunner’s station”. Mine is the old fashioned type made of used tires.
Soft Ammo Pouch for SAW – To fire the SAW in the standing or kneeling position is difficult with the 200 round plastic drums; you are trained to hold the bipod in your non firing hand in order to steady the weapon. This looks cool, but it’s hard to control. The soft ammo pouch allows you to hold the hand guard assembly with your non firing hand and gain better control.
Tactical Vest – this is handy to wear over your IBA to carry your magazines and other mission accoutrements, and if you are a gunner, you can attach your deltoid and side shields to it. This way, when you aren’t on mission, but you have to wear your body armor, you can leave the tactical vest and 15 lbs of extra weight behind.
Umbrella – I got some good use out of this. Some other Soldiers got some use too, but that’s on the down low.
“Under Armor” type moisture wicking shirts – the issued ones are very itchy, but I have a thing for 100% cotton.
Walk About Radios – these are handy and some GPS models have them built in.
Watch – an accurate watch is helpful for setting radio time.
Whistle or Air horn – to direct traffic, mostly to direct them to stop or get the heck away from you.
You don’t need: a Ranger Pace Counter, Ranger Handbook, Anything made to go specifically on an LBE (load bearing equipment) because you won’t be wearing an LBE. It sounds counterintuitive, but you also don’t need a “Camelbak” type hydration system - almost none of us have used them since Kuwait. We drink bottled water. We are doing MP type work, and most of the time we stay within 20 meters of our vehicles.
Comforts: Laptop, DVD Player, and video games. Get some canned air to keep the dust out of them. You’ll also need a converter since electricity here runs at 220 volts. Because of this, don’t buy appliances like, TVs, Microwaves, AC units, heaters, or lamps until you get here; converters can only handle so much juice. Also, remember, when you are moving in, someone’s going to be moving out, so there will be bargains.
You may not want to keep track of all this extra stuff at your state side training site, so it might be better to give a loved one a list of web links where the items can be purchased online and sent as you need them. Keep in mind that, it took us three weeks, once we were theatre, to get a mailing address. Be sure to write down the sizes of all of your issued clothing and equipment, keeping one list with you, one list at home, and one list with you supervisor.
All equipment should be desert cammo, tan, or - least desirable – green in color. Do not buy black! One, it will get hot, especially gloves. Two: if it’s tan or green, you can write your name on it. Imagine that almost every piece of equipment we have is like a black suitcase on the luggage carousel. And though we haven’t had a problem with theft, there is no lost and found here. People are more likely to turn something if there’s a name on it.
I’ll come back and update this when I think of something to add.
Update
Email from OIC of National Guard RFI:
The brief you saw on line is what will be issued. All soldiers get some items. Soldiers in BCTs get additional equipment. All items are issued pending priority of the unit's mission and availability of the items at time of issue. PEO Soldier and NGB are working hard to ensure that every soldier deploying gets the RFI suite of equipment prior to deploying or during RSOI in Kuwait. Use the brief as a reference for what will be issued to future deploying soldiers. It may vary some but it should be mostly accurate.
CPT Clay Williamson
Saturday, December 25, 2004
I grabbed the headline on my father's Christmas letter.
A nativity scene on a church wall in Baghdad.
Friday, December 24, 2004
How does the internet work for you? Do you have your own computer and internet access or do you have to share computers?
There are four internet cafes on our FOB; three of them charge $2 to use their computers or our own laptop. The fourth café is free, and, of course, has a slower connection. In my squad, which is older and careful with their money, two of us have laptops, while in the younger squad, more than half the guys have them. Now just because the older guys – E5s and E6s - are careful with their money, doesn’t mean they are shy about making the most of other’s purchases.
There are four internet cafes on our FOB; three of them charge $2 to use their computers or our own laptop. The fourth café is free, and, of course, has a slower connection. In my squad, which is older and careful with their money, two of us have laptops, while in the younger squad, more than half the guys have them. Now just because the older guys – E5s and E6s - are careful with their money, doesn’t mean they are shy about making the most of other’s purchases.
One of four internet cafes.
I noticed this UN Soldier in the PX. He told me, “We are here in support of peace.” What, like I’m not? ; ) I saw him again outside and asked to take his picture. He agreed saying that I would document the UN’s presence here though he was careful to point his UN beret flash into the sun to aid in plausible deniability.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
A T-Shirt at the PX
Can you tell me/us more about the feelings you have about being there as well as the other guys. Is it monotonous being there?
I'm at the acceptance stage. I see this as my reality. Sure, I want to go home, but I don't count the days. Actually, when I think about the end of the deployment, I feel apprehensive. I really do want to go home and be with my family and return to my job. So, how does an individual (the Army's term for individualist) like me become institutionalized? I guess I have had to accept this as permanent, rather than temporary, as a way to cope.
On the outside, most guys are counting the days. The DoD policy is one year, “boots on the ground,” so the first day we were here, it was, “364 and a wake up.” The “and a wake up” is appended to any measurement of time: “15 days and a wake up until I go on pass.”
Yes, the mission is very monotonous. I am very fortunate to have a job back home that requires creativity. Here it's sit, move, sit, move - though, I got to shoot out a tire on a truck the other day. The driver wouldn't follow my instructions to stop at our roadblock, so I shot his tire out. The driver wasn't a bad guy; he just wasn’t paying attention. Saying, "I got to shoot out a tire on a truck the other day," is just as it sounds. Yes, I got to perform a task for which I've been trained ... blah, blah, blah. But that’s not what made it notable; it was because it was a pleasant break in routine and a bit of a thrill. Of course, that doesn't mean that I'll come back to the US and arbitrarily shoot tires or anything else.
I'm at the acceptance stage. I see this as my reality. Sure, I want to go home, but I don't count the days. Actually, when I think about the end of the deployment, I feel apprehensive. I really do want to go home and be with my family and return to my job. So, how does an individual (the Army's term for individualist) like me become institutionalized? I guess I have had to accept this as permanent, rather than temporary, as a way to cope.
On the outside, most guys are counting the days. The DoD policy is one year, “boots on the ground,” so the first day we were here, it was, “364 and a wake up.” The “and a wake up” is appended to any measurement of time: “15 days and a wake up until I go on pass.”
Yes, the mission is very monotonous. I am very fortunate to have a job back home that requires creativity. Here it's sit, move, sit, move - though, I got to shoot out a tire on a truck the other day. The driver wouldn't follow my instructions to stop at our roadblock, so I shot his tire out. The driver wasn't a bad guy; he just wasn’t paying attention. Saying, "I got to shoot out a tire on a truck the other day," is just as it sounds. Yes, I got to perform a task for which I've been trained ... blah, blah, blah. But that’s not what made it notable; it was because it was a pleasant break in routine and a bit of a thrill. Of course, that doesn't mean that I'll come back to the US and arbitrarily shoot tires or anything else.
As predicted, it happened very fast - so fast that I could not use the "closed sites" of my TC's SAW. Instead, I looked over the top of the sites, but was still able to put just about all rounds on target. Though the 5.56 makes ice pick holes, they went right through the wheel rim and the fuel tank.
It’s pretty typical of Soldiers here. When we hear that something happened on a mission, the first thing that is asked, “Did you get to light ‘em up.” If someone misses an incident or is there but not in a position to fire, we are truly disappointed.
Quote
Friend 1: Do you know how to say, “Hello, how are you?”
Colin: We would say, “Peace be with you,” which is “Salam Alaikum.”
Friend 2: Dude, I could hear that on an episode of “Oz.”
Sunday, December 19, 2004
I finally got to make some balloon figures for some kids.
Many homes and apartment buildings were engulfed by the I Zone when it was created. We happened to be parked outside of a little neighborhood when a group of siblings came out to ask us for treats. I opened up my bag and found some apples, juice, and M&Ms and our driver handed up a bag of Doritos. I also had some “sculpturing” balloons. It was dark and I hadn’t worked on my repertoire in a while, so I made dogs for everyone. I had asked for balloons from home when we had been working the checkpoint at Falluja, but they arrived just a few days after we started our new mission here in the I Zone.
Though the oldest kid – about six – knew a lot of English words, a young lady who came over helped us by serving as translator. I asked her to tell the oldest one to share the M&Ms with her siblings and they, in turn, asked her to ask our names and tell us theirs. The kids, as most of them do, asked me to take their picture, below.
Though, no one here is starving, the indigenous population, like most of the world, does not take food for granted like Americans do. Apples as treats? The little guy started eating his immediately and he really enjoyed it. If you’ve seen the documentary, “Uncle Saddam”, you’ll notice that the apples I gave them are in much better shape than the one he handing to a kid. They asked me if I was coming back tomorrow. I said maybe.
Sometimes, the kids aren’t so welcome. When we were out in the Red Zone one night, some kids came up the vehicle to say hello. After some initial pleasantries, they asked me for water and I told them I wasn’t allowed to give it to them. They then knocked on the truck commander’s window, who didn’t acknowledge them, instead staring straight ahead, keeping his eyes “focused on the mission”.
Then they knocked on the driver’s window, and he, without a word, opened the door, threw some containers of leftovers on the ground, and closed the door. The action had the desired effect: the kids picked them up and walked off happily.
Kids aren't the only ones looking for treats. One of the workers in our compound showed me an empty Oreo cookie wrapper saying, “Hey mister, I need this.” So, I looked through the boxes of goodies and found a pack for him.
Many homes and apartment buildings were engulfed by the I Zone when it was created. We happened to be parked outside of a little neighborhood when a group of siblings came out to ask us for treats. I opened up my bag and found some apples, juice, and M&Ms and our driver handed up a bag of Doritos. I also had some “sculpturing” balloons. It was dark and I hadn’t worked on my repertoire in a while, so I made dogs for everyone. I had asked for balloons from home when we had been working the checkpoint at Falluja, but they arrived just a few days after we started our new mission here in the I Zone.
Though the oldest kid – about six – knew a lot of English words, a young lady who came over helped us by serving as translator. I asked her to tell the oldest one to share the M&Ms with her siblings and they, in turn, asked her to ask our names and tell us theirs. The kids, as most of them do, asked me to take their picture, below.
Though, no one here is starving, the indigenous population, like most of the world, does not take food for granted like Americans do. Apples as treats? The little guy started eating his immediately and he really enjoyed it. If you’ve seen the documentary, “Uncle Saddam”, you’ll notice that the apples I gave them are in much better shape than the one he handing to a kid. They asked me if I was coming back tomorrow. I said maybe.
Sometimes, the kids aren’t so welcome. When we were out in the Red Zone one night, some kids came up the vehicle to say hello. After some initial pleasantries, they asked me for water and I told them I wasn’t allowed to give it to them. They then knocked on the truck commander’s window, who didn’t acknowledge them, instead staring straight ahead, keeping his eyes “focused on the mission”.
Then they knocked on the driver’s window, and he, without a word, opened the door, threw some containers of leftovers on the ground, and closed the door. The action had the desired effect: the kids picked them up and walked off happily.
Kids aren't the only ones looking for treats. One of the workers in our compound showed me an empty Oreo cookie wrapper saying, “Hey mister, I need this.” So, I looked through the boxes of goodies and found a pack for him.
A picture of the siblings, with their goodies, and "our translator". The littlest one (not pictured) waved to me from the balcony of his family's apartment.
Friday, December 17, 2004
I Received a Counseling Statement
It was for failing to keep accountability of my M9 pistol - that’s a “gun of the hand” for those of you in Lancaster County. When you lose track of what are called sensitive items - i.e. weapons, radios, weapons sights, binoculars, protective masks - there are two kinds of lost: really lost, and squad leader/ platoon sergeant lost. These NCOs seem to have a sixth sense for finding “unsecured” items and making Soldiers sweat.
After scouring my truck and room, I told my team leader, Reed, and asked him and our driver to look for it. Still nothing. It was then time to tell our squad leader. My team leader told him it was missing and my squad leader said quietly, “I have it.” He took him to his room, gave it to him and said, “You know what you have to do,” which meant I was getting a counseling statement.
It’s not the first time someone has lost track of a weapon. In one case, a platoon sergeant found two M9s in the outhouses within a few minutes of each other. That platoon had to perform an on the spot sensitive item layout. The most serious incident occurred when a Soldier charged with guarding several weapons had four of them removed from under his nose by a colonel AND a sergeant major. This was a serious violation of our first general order (there are only three), “I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.”
And, of course, colonel and sergeant major lost is a whole ‘nother level of lost, but they were nice enough to leave a note. It said, “If you want your weapons back, come and see [us].” Our LT took everyone involved to see the colonel who gave him the weapons and had him see the colonel in our chain of command. As an added barb, when the weapons were returned the Soldiers were told that they were dirty. The LT marched the Soldier over to see our colonel which has been the only time they’ve marched since we’ve been in theatre. The LT got a talking to, but in the end the matter was dropped, I guess because it could not be shown exactly who was guarding the weapons when they were taken.
Counseling statements can be of three types: positive – praising the Soldier, negative – correcting the Soldier, and those of understanding or expected results.
The purpose of my counseling was:
To reiterate to the soldier the importance of maintaining constant security of all of his personal equipment.
To enhance the soldier’s situational awareness.
The counseling surmised what happened:
The soldier left his weapon unsecured for a period of time.
The soldier did not have accountability of his personal equipment.
The soldier did report to his team leader upon realization of missing equipment.
The soldier did take responsibility for his actions.
“The soldier did take responsibility for his actions,” bullet sounds like filler, but you’d be surprised by how many Soldiers don’t. A big problem we’ve had is with the unintentional firing of weapons, called negligent discharges (these used to be called accidental discharges, but the Army, trying stress their seriousness, decided on a name change). Soldiers have claimed that they were not trained on the weapon, they were temporary incapacitation, and that their ammunition was defective.
After the first couple of ADs (they changed the name, but not the acronym), we all had a class on how to clear each weapon. Then a guy who had already had an AD with a pistol had another one with a .50 and claimed he wasn’t trained on the weapon. It didn’t matter that he signed an attendance sheet for the weapons clearing class, they didn’t have a piece of paper stating that the Soldier understood clearing procedures. So, over one hundred counseling statements went out, each Soldier signing a statement that they understood the weapons clearing procedures. Yes, it’s the military, but it’s also one of the biggest bureaucracies in the world.
My counseling outlined a plan for corrective training:
Soldier will report to his team leader at 0700 and one hour after every mission/ movement to show security of his weapons.
Soldier will carry both his personal weapons (M-4 and M-9) with him at all times when not in his living quarters.
This plan will continue for a period of seven (7) days.
I got off pretty easy. That’s because I’d been a squared away Soldier and it was the first time I’d done it. In another case, while I was on leave, my truck was found to be unlocked one night, so the truck commander and the driver had to layout all sensitive items on the truck at 0600 every morning for one week! My squad leader and I were about to go for a run scheduled run and when he saw me with my weapons, he said, “You gotta take your weapons? Oh, that’s right.” We ran two laps around the FOB and I made sure to keep up with him. Fortunately, I had traded my SAW in for an M4. It was also fortunate that Reed saw me on the way in from the run and told me I didn’t have to have my weapons with me when I ran. If you take your licks and don’t bitch about your punishment, your chain of command respects you.
It was for failing to keep accountability of my M9 pistol - that’s a “gun of the hand” for those of you in Lancaster County. When you lose track of what are called sensitive items - i.e. weapons, radios, weapons sights, binoculars, protective masks - there are two kinds of lost: really lost, and squad leader/ platoon sergeant lost. These NCOs seem to have a sixth sense for finding “unsecured” items and making Soldiers sweat.
After scouring my truck and room, I told my team leader, Reed, and asked him and our driver to look for it. Still nothing. It was then time to tell our squad leader. My team leader told him it was missing and my squad leader said quietly, “I have it.” He took him to his room, gave it to him and said, “You know what you have to do,” which meant I was getting a counseling statement.
It’s not the first time someone has lost track of a weapon. In one case, a platoon sergeant found two M9s in the outhouses within a few minutes of each other. That platoon had to perform an on the spot sensitive item layout. The most serious incident occurred when a Soldier charged with guarding several weapons had four of them removed from under his nose by a colonel AND a sergeant major. This was a serious violation of our first general order (there are only three), “I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.”
And, of course, colonel and sergeant major lost is a whole ‘nother level of lost, but they were nice enough to leave a note. It said, “If you want your weapons back, come and see [us].” Our LT took everyone involved to see the colonel who gave him the weapons and had him see the colonel in our chain of command. As an added barb, when the weapons were returned the Soldiers were told that they were dirty. The LT marched the Soldier over to see our colonel which has been the only time they’ve marched since we’ve been in theatre. The LT got a talking to, but in the end the matter was dropped, I guess because it could not be shown exactly who was guarding the weapons when they were taken.
Counseling statements can be of three types: positive – praising the Soldier, negative – correcting the Soldier, and those of understanding or expected results.
The purpose of my counseling was:
To reiterate to the soldier the importance of maintaining constant security of all of his personal equipment.
To enhance the soldier’s situational awareness.
The counseling surmised what happened:
The soldier left his weapon unsecured for a period of time.
The soldier did not have accountability of his personal equipment.
The soldier did report to his team leader upon realization of missing equipment.
The soldier did take responsibility for his actions.
“The soldier did take responsibility for his actions,” bullet sounds like filler, but you’d be surprised by how many Soldiers don’t. A big problem we’ve had is with the unintentional firing of weapons, called negligent discharges (these used to be called accidental discharges, but the Army, trying stress their seriousness, decided on a name change). Soldiers have claimed that they were not trained on the weapon, they were temporary incapacitation, and that their ammunition was defective.
After the first couple of ADs (they changed the name, but not the acronym), we all had a class on how to clear each weapon. Then a guy who had already had an AD with a pistol had another one with a .50 and claimed he wasn’t trained on the weapon. It didn’t matter that he signed an attendance sheet for the weapons clearing class, they didn’t have a piece of paper stating that the Soldier understood clearing procedures. So, over one hundred counseling statements went out, each Soldier signing a statement that they understood the weapons clearing procedures. Yes, it’s the military, but it’s also one of the biggest bureaucracies in the world.
My counseling outlined a plan for corrective training:
Soldier will report to his team leader at 0700 and one hour after every mission/ movement to show security of his weapons.
Soldier will carry both his personal weapons (M-4 and M-9) with him at all times when not in his living quarters.
This plan will continue for a period of seven (7) days.
I got off pretty easy. That’s because I’d been a squared away Soldier and it was the first time I’d done it. In another case, while I was on leave, my truck was found to be unlocked one night, so the truck commander and the driver had to layout all sensitive items on the truck at 0600 every morning for one week! My squad leader and I were about to go for a run scheduled run and when he saw me with my weapons, he said, “You gotta take your weapons? Oh, that’s right.” We ran two laps around the FOB and I made sure to keep up with him. Fortunately, I had traded my SAW in for an M4. It was also fortunate that Reed saw me on the way in from the run and told me I didn’t have to have my weapons with me when I ran. If you take your licks and don’t bitch about your punishment, your chain of command respects you.
A sensitive item layout.
Can you tell us about the medical/health care system for our troops? i.e., is it focused on critical care needs or are they good at providing what is needed for soldiers with chronic conditions, basic ailments, etc?
Well, the mission of the Army medical system is "To Preserve the Fighting Strength". That sounds like we put a field dressing on and push them back in the fray, but it's usually not that heartless (I'll post something later on dentistry). One of the reasons for this, I think, is the professionalism of the medical corps which seems to flow from the medical profession as a whole. A military hospital or clinic is pretty much just like any other medical facility with the staff thinking of themselves as a care providers first and Soldiers, Airmen, or Sailors second. I do think that the military has served as a model for HMO and other cost cutting measures. An RN take a patient history? Forget it. And, of course, physician’s assistants got their start in the military.
Does the system vary by which branch you are in?
My opinion? Highest quality is Navy, then Air Force, then Army. In the field, service members go to the closest or most appropriate facility.
You are a medic (or had been one?) -- can you tell us what that entails?
I was a line medic attached to a light infantry platoon. We held sick call, in which we gave medications, removed ticks, etc. In the field we treated burns, splinters, blisters, sprains, cuts from someone screwing around with their oversized knife, and gave IVs for dehydration. If it was something we couldn't handle, we'd transfer them to "higher" (our logistical and experiential superiors). A lot of the time, it was just humping a ruck sack - and my medic bag - through the woods. Our section leader, Dave, was a big guy and he used to carry that bag like a sack lunch. Actually, the most fun I had in that unit was when we went to Germany and I rode in an armored personnel carrier during a large scale war game. It was so realistic and it sure beat walking!
Is there a "hospital" there for the injured, or are soldiers transferred to another country if they need hospitalization/rehab?
Hospitals here could have a particular patient for a few days or weeks. If they need special treatment, or won't be returning to duty for an extended period of time, they may go to Germany or back to the US. If a trooper is still capable of doing their job, they could continue physical therapy here in Iraq.
Once you have completed your service, do you automatically get into the VA system here or do you have a choice, depending on what insurance you get through your employer?
I'm not sure. I believe we will go through a screening process when we demobilize to find out what medical conditions persist. At that time we will be given information on the VA, etc.
Well, the mission of the Army medical system is "To Preserve the Fighting Strength". That sounds like we put a field dressing on and push them back in the fray, but it's usually not that heartless (I'll post something later on dentistry). One of the reasons for this, I think, is the professionalism of the medical corps which seems to flow from the medical profession as a whole. A military hospital or clinic is pretty much just like any other medical facility with the staff thinking of themselves as a care providers first and Soldiers, Airmen, or Sailors second. I do think that the military has served as a model for HMO and other cost cutting measures. An RN take a patient history? Forget it. And, of course, physician’s assistants got their start in the military.
Does the system vary by which branch you are in?
My opinion? Highest quality is Navy, then Air Force, then Army. In the field, service members go to the closest or most appropriate facility.
You are a medic (or had been one?) -- can you tell us what that entails?
I was a line medic attached to a light infantry platoon. We held sick call, in which we gave medications, removed ticks, etc. In the field we treated burns, splinters, blisters, sprains, cuts from someone screwing around with their oversized knife, and gave IVs for dehydration. If it was something we couldn't handle, we'd transfer them to "higher" (our logistical and experiential superiors). A lot of the time, it was just humping a ruck sack - and my medic bag - through the woods. Our section leader, Dave, was a big guy and he used to carry that bag like a sack lunch. Actually, the most fun I had in that unit was when we went to Germany and I rode in an armored personnel carrier during a large scale war game. It was so realistic and it sure beat walking!
Is there a "hospital" there for the injured, or are soldiers transferred to another country if they need hospitalization/rehab?
Hospitals here could have a particular patient for a few days or weeks. If they need special treatment, or won't be returning to duty for an extended period of time, they may go to Germany or back to the US. If a trooper is still capable of doing their job, they could continue physical therapy here in Iraq.
Once you have completed your service, do you automatically get into the VA system here or do you have a choice, depending on what insurance you get through your employer?
I'm not sure. I believe we will go through a screening process when we demobilize to find out what medical conditions persist. At that time we will be given information on the VA, etc.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
It’s Now, Officially, Cold
There was ice on top of the humvee this morning. It made it a little tricky getting the .50 set up. For those inside the truck, it’s like driving to work: put on a sweater and wait for the heat to come on, but for us in the turret, it starting to feel like Ft. Dix again.
Due to a personnel change, I’ve been able to gun on almost every mission for the last three months. If you really like to gun, surrender your civilian driver’s license before you are activated. You can’t drive a military vehicle without one, so the only other place for you is the gun. I thought about doing it while I was on leave, but as an active duty, Title X Soldier, you can get in a lot of trouble for “pulling a stunt” like that and it would also be what's know in the Army as "screwing your buddy.” But, if you don’t yet have an assigned truck, go for it.
Quote of the Day
Colin: Hey, this is sponsored by Raytheon, that’s who you want to work for.
Kip: No, that’s DynCorp.
Colin: Oh well, it’s all the same military industrial complex to me.
There was ice on top of the humvee this morning. It made it a little tricky getting the .50 set up. For those inside the truck, it’s like driving to work: put on a sweater and wait for the heat to come on, but for us in the turret, it starting to feel like Ft. Dix again.
Due to a personnel change, I’ve been able to gun on almost every mission for the last three months. If you really like to gun, surrender your civilian driver’s license before you are activated. You can’t drive a military vehicle without one, so the only other place for you is the gun. I thought about doing it while I was on leave, but as an active duty, Title X Soldier, you can get in a lot of trouble for “pulling a stunt” like that and it would also be what's know in the Army as "screwing your buddy.” But, if you don’t yet have an assigned truck, go for it.
Quote of the Day
Colin: Hey, this is sponsored by Raytheon, that’s who you want to work for.
Kip: No, that’s DynCorp.
Colin: Oh well, it’s all the same military industrial complex to me.
Another gunner and me bundled up.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Quote of the Day
Going forward, I'll post some quotes or short interactions that I found amusing.
SGT 1: You guys smell that? It smells like something’s dead.
SGT 2: Dude, where’ve you been, the whole ****ing country smells like that.
Going forward, I'll post some quotes or short interactions that I found amusing.
SGT 1: You guys smell that? It smells like something’s dead.
SGT 2: Dude, where’ve you been, the whole ****ing country smells like that.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Changing Lodgings
We moved back into the main compound. The change came as part of a personnel rotation. We were told that we were moving because incoming leadership wanted the building for their own personnel. This was rather annoying because we (my old team leader, Reed, in particular) had worked hard to make building inhabitable. Missing windows were boarded up, rooms were wired with electricity, air conditioning units were put in. Reed even led a project to put in a sump pump so we could shower and wash our clothes in the building. Certainly, we were well motivated to do the work; we had the tightest accommodations in the company: 180 sq ft for five of us. Being in the Guard means you don’t get the nicest quarters, especially if you move around a lot. “Hey, we’ve been saving this building just for you part timers!” At Camp Falluja, we were the only ones living in the black out area.
Getting the needed supplies to make the building livable would normally be very difficult, but one day we provided security for a mission led by a quartermaster officer. He appreciated what we were doing, so he got us everything we needed: refrigerators, a freezer, wiring supplies, plywood, and hardware.
A while after to we got settled, we decided to spread out even more, cleaning junk of rooms, boarding up more windows, stringing more wire, etc. My roommate, Kip, and I had one of the biggest rooms in the company: 240 sq ft. Of course, once the building started looking good and we had more room than people had back at the main building, people starting complaining that we had too much room. One of the platoon leaders who thought his guys were getting screwed, took the First Sergeant (1SG) through our barracks to show him the injustice. Thankfully, nothing came of it.
Once we were told that we were moving, we held off on further improvements. But, then we were told we weren’t moving after all, so I took some time to insulate a boarded up window. I pulled down the sheet of plywood covering a window opening and Kip help me replace it with two sheets of wood with insulation (Styrofoam, reams of paper, books) sandwiched between them. As I worked, some guys from the new unit came by taking a bed inventory. I just figured they were looking for extra bunks, but a few hours later, we found out we were moving again. So, we moved back into the 180 sq ft rooms, fortunately only three of us this time. For five months, almost half the deployment, we had it good. We have to be thankful for that.
As soon as a barracks or even a room is empty, the scrounging starts. This is somewhat orderly: US personnel in the building first, then US personnel in the compound, and then Iraqi nationals. Items sought are better lockers, shelves, extension cords, and anything that might be of use, but had to be left behind because of limited space either in transport or in the new quarters.
A few weeks before a move, the “For Sale” sign start going up and as the move gets closer, the prices start going down. Refrigerators, TVs, cell phones, stereos, and video games are the big ticket items. The day some of the guys moved out, I saw a sign for a Play Station 2 for $20.
We moved back into the main compound. The change came as part of a personnel rotation. We were told that we were moving because incoming leadership wanted the building for their own personnel. This was rather annoying because we (my old team leader, Reed, in particular) had worked hard to make building inhabitable. Missing windows were boarded up, rooms were wired with electricity, air conditioning units were put in. Reed even led a project to put in a sump pump so we could shower and wash our clothes in the building. Certainly, we were well motivated to do the work; we had the tightest accommodations in the company: 180 sq ft for five of us. Being in the Guard means you don’t get the nicest quarters, especially if you move around a lot. “Hey, we’ve been saving this building just for you part timers!” At Camp Falluja, we were the only ones living in the black out area.
Getting the needed supplies to make the building livable would normally be very difficult, but one day we provided security for a mission led by a quartermaster officer. He appreciated what we were doing, so he got us everything we needed: refrigerators, a freezer, wiring supplies, plywood, and hardware.
A while after to we got settled, we decided to spread out even more, cleaning junk of rooms, boarding up more windows, stringing more wire, etc. My roommate, Kip, and I had one of the biggest rooms in the company: 240 sq ft. Of course, once the building started looking good and we had more room than people had back at the main building, people starting complaining that we had too much room. One of the platoon leaders who thought his guys were getting screwed, took the First Sergeant (1SG) through our barracks to show him the injustice. Thankfully, nothing came of it.
Once we were told that we were moving, we held off on further improvements. But, then we were told we weren’t moving after all, so I took some time to insulate a boarded up window. I pulled down the sheet of plywood covering a window opening and Kip help me replace it with two sheets of wood with insulation (Styrofoam, reams of paper, books) sandwiched between them. As I worked, some guys from the new unit came by taking a bed inventory. I just figured they were looking for extra bunks, but a few hours later, we found out we were moving again. So, we moved back into the 180 sq ft rooms, fortunately only three of us this time. For five months, almost half the deployment, we had it good. We have to be thankful for that.
As soon as a barracks or even a room is empty, the scrounging starts. This is somewhat orderly: US personnel in the building first, then US personnel in the compound, and then Iraqi nationals. Items sought are better lockers, shelves, extension cords, and anything that might be of use, but had to be left behind because of limited space either in transport or in the new quarters.
A few weeks before a move, the “For Sale” sign start going up and as the move gets closer, the prices start going down. Refrigerators, TVs, cell phones, stereos, and video games are the big ticket items. The day some of the guys moved out, I saw a sign for a Play Station 2 for $20.
Items left behind. I guess one guy had a thing for the Olson twins.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Nine months down, three to go.
Time was flying by, but now with the new living conditions… I have to remind myself of the five months of relative luxury we had. More on that later.
Time was flying by, but now with the new living conditions… I have to remind myself of the five months of relative luxury we had. More on that later.
Saturday, December 04, 2004
At least two bombs went off just outside I Zone check points this morning. Surprisingly, they were followed by sustained small arms fire. Some of us wanted to rush in and help out, but that's not the way the military works. We are pretty familiar with the area, so it was like, BOOM! Crack, crack, crack. "That's checkpoint X" ... BOOM! Crack, crack, crack. "That's checkpoint Y" ... Crack, crack, crack. "That's checkpoint Z" One Soldier said, in reference to the suicide attacks, "Someone's going to meet Alah today."
A Fresh Perspective
A younger guy, Bud, impressed me during a short conversation sparked by a news story about nuclear proliferation on VOA radio:
Kip: The US has tons of nuclear weapons and yet we try to keep everyone else from getting them. Isn't that hypocritical?
Colin (atypically indifferent): Yeah, well, what are you gonna do?
Bud: Not really, cause we aren't ****ing insane; we aren't going to nuke some country just because they say God isn't real.
I can't argue with that.
A younger guy, Bud, impressed me during a short conversation sparked by a news story about nuclear proliferation on VOA radio:
Kip: The US has tons of nuclear weapons and yet we try to keep everyone else from getting them. Isn't that hypocritical?
Colin (atypically indifferent): Yeah, well, what are you gonna do?
Bud: Not really, cause we aren't ****ing insane; we aren't going to nuke some country just because they say God isn't real.
I can't argue with that.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Are the guys you serve with very homophobic?
Some say it's nobody's business, others think it's wrong. But there’s only one thing Soldiers joke about more than heterosexual sex and that’s homosexual sex. Guys tease all the time about each other being gay, and my roommate, Kip, in particular, gets teased quite often. Guys have drawn graphic pictures on the squad announcement board and write things like “Kip loves So-and-So” inside of a heart.
And just like in high school, some of the guys that tease him are the same guys who borrow his DVDs, eat his food, use his computer, X Box, microwave, printer, etc. People take advantage of his kindness and show a lack of respect for both him and his belongings. Kip is a great roommate, and I’ve been trying to be a good roommate to him hopefully making up for all those years when I wasn’t (Yes, I used to leave those little notes).
I hate to see people picked on. So I decided to fight fire with fire. I downloaded a “Safe Person / Safe Space” sign from the web, gave it to Kip, and told him where the tape was. Kip then placed the sign on the outside of our door. Kip and I are both comfortable with our sexuality: we both like girls - me one in particular. To clarify, we believe in the historical intent of the poster: we would, indeed, give refuge to someone being persecuted because they were homosexual.
Kip and I are in two different chains of command, so when an NCO in my chain of command entered the room in anticipation of giving me a thrashing, he walked away disappointed to know that Kip put it up. And, of course, that’s why Kip put it up.
Now the same guys that teased Kip about being gay were upset by the sign and wanted it taken down saying that anyone who came in our building might think we were all gay. Kip never complained about these jokes; what was he going to say, “Sergeant, these guys are teasing me!”? But these guys didn’t hesitate to go through their chain of command, saying that the sign offended them. So, the word came down (insider comment: or did it?) that the only postings allowed outside the room were news articles about our deployment and any other material that did not offend anyone. Most of the guys didn’t care about the sign; one older guy said facetiously to another, “If we put that sign up on our door, neither one of us will be able to get into the Masons or the Klan [for that matter].”
With the only counter to the teasing gone, the jokes continue. Recently, in the presence of several NCO’s, the supply sergeant was coaxed to ask Kip whether he liked the color pink. That’s not teasing at the team, squad, or platoon, but at the company level. It could be rationalized that they were laughing with him, not at him, but it becomes obviously mean when people who don't even know Kip are brought in on “the joke”.
Some say it's nobody's business, others think it's wrong. But there’s only one thing Soldiers joke about more than heterosexual sex and that’s homosexual sex. Guys tease all the time about each other being gay, and my roommate, Kip, in particular, gets teased quite often. Guys have drawn graphic pictures on the squad announcement board and write things like “Kip loves So-and-So” inside of a heart.
And just like in high school, some of the guys that tease him are the same guys who borrow his DVDs, eat his food, use his computer, X Box, microwave, printer, etc. People take advantage of his kindness and show a lack of respect for both him and his belongings. Kip is a great roommate, and I’ve been trying to be a good roommate to him hopefully making up for all those years when I wasn’t (Yes, I used to leave those little notes).
I hate to see people picked on. So I decided to fight fire with fire. I downloaded a “Safe Person / Safe Space” sign from the web, gave it to Kip, and told him where the tape was. Kip then placed the sign on the outside of our door. Kip and I are both comfortable with our sexuality: we both like girls - me one in particular. To clarify, we believe in the historical intent of the poster: we would, indeed, give refuge to someone being persecuted because they were homosexual.
Kip and I are in two different chains of command, so when an NCO in my chain of command entered the room in anticipation of giving me a thrashing, he walked away disappointed to know that Kip put it up. And, of course, that’s why Kip put it up.
Now the same guys that teased Kip about being gay were upset by the sign and wanted it taken down saying that anyone who came in our building might think we were all gay. Kip never complained about these jokes; what was he going to say, “Sergeant, these guys are teasing me!”? But these guys didn’t hesitate to go through their chain of command, saying that the sign offended them. So, the word came down (insider comment: or did it?) that the only postings allowed outside the room were news articles about our deployment and any other material that did not offend anyone. Most of the guys didn’t care about the sign; one older guy said facetiously to another, “If we put that sign up on our door, neither one of us will be able to get into the Masons or the Klan [for that matter].”
With the only counter to the teasing gone, the jokes continue. Recently, in the presence of several NCO’s, the supply sergeant was coaxed to ask Kip whether he liked the color pink. That’s not teasing at the team, squad, or platoon, but at the company level. It could be rationalized that they were laughing with him, not at him, but it becomes obviously mean when people who don't even know Kip are brought in on “the joke”.
HUMVEE Race
The long talked about wrestling match between Kip and Ricky finally took place. Kip, my roommate, said it would be held in the downstairs of our gutted physical plant building. I asked Kip not to do it there, warning him that someone would get hurt on the concrete floor. Of course, once I concluded that they were going to do it anyway, I went down to enjoy the show.
The main room is not lit, so we held flashlights on the contestants and stood in assigned spots to keep them from running into hazards such as columns and pipes. Right after the match ended, a familiar voice from the shadows asked us what we were doing.
Very shortly thereafter, leadership was supervising us performing readiness drills - mounting the weapons on the trucks and getting all of our gear on. One Soldier rightly argued that we were just blowing off steam and noted that sports are an Army recommended way of relieving stress. Leadership then decided that we would start doing physical training (PT) every morning; not really a sport, but whatever.
But, then leadership took a step back and thought about how situation could be turned into something fun. It was decided that the people involved: the wrestlers, the flashlight holders, and the designated safety personal would participate in a humvee race. The perpetrators were from two different platoons, so we would be split into two teams of four each.
The next morning we reported to the race course which was about 50 meters long. A captain was selected from each team and we could pick a driver (to steer) from the group of about 20 spectators. Each team would push their respective Humvee the length of the course. Best two out of three heats would win. The track was on a very slight incline, which wouldn’t be a big deal, except an empty up armored humvee weighs almost five tons.
After two heats, we were tied with a win each. The course was then extended to include a gravel covered area with an increased grade. We were a length ahead of our opponents, but then stalled in a shallow ditch. The other truck also stalled, its bumper just a few feet behind ours. The other team’s fans were cheering them on to push harder, one saying, “What’s the matter? Doesn’t it snow where you live?” We tried and tried, but couldn’t budge them anymore. The two platoon sergeants then got behind their respective vehicles and we were able to cross the line first.
I thought the whole thing was hilarious; when I wasn’t pushing, I was laughing. But some of the guys took it too seriously, wanting to focus on it as punishment instead of something turned into fun. One guy complained, “We were just wrestling! What was wrong with that?” I wise corporal responded, “I dunno dude, I think flashlights on a dark concrete floor had something to do with it.”
The long talked about wrestling match between Kip and Ricky finally took place. Kip, my roommate, said it would be held in the downstairs of our gutted physical plant building. I asked Kip not to do it there, warning him that someone would get hurt on the concrete floor. Of course, once I concluded that they were going to do it anyway, I went down to enjoy the show.
The main room is not lit, so we held flashlights on the contestants and stood in assigned spots to keep them from running into hazards such as columns and pipes. Right after the match ended, a familiar voice from the shadows asked us what we were doing.
Very shortly thereafter, leadership was supervising us performing readiness drills - mounting the weapons on the trucks and getting all of our gear on. One Soldier rightly argued that we were just blowing off steam and noted that sports are an Army recommended way of relieving stress. Leadership then decided that we would start doing physical training (PT) every morning; not really a sport, but whatever.
But, then leadership took a step back and thought about how situation could be turned into something fun. It was decided that the people involved: the wrestlers, the flashlight holders, and the designated safety personal would participate in a humvee race. The perpetrators were from two different platoons, so we would be split into two teams of four each.
The next morning we reported to the race course which was about 50 meters long. A captain was selected from each team and we could pick a driver (to steer) from the group of about 20 spectators. Each team would push their respective Humvee the length of the course. Best two out of three heats would win. The track was on a very slight incline, which wouldn’t be a big deal, except an empty up armored humvee weighs almost five tons.
After two heats, we were tied with a win each. The course was then extended to include a gravel covered area with an increased grade. We were a length ahead of our opponents, but then stalled in a shallow ditch. The other truck also stalled, its bumper just a few feet behind ours. The other team’s fans were cheering them on to push harder, one saying, “What’s the matter? Doesn’t it snow where you live?” We tried and tried, but couldn’t budge them anymore. The two platoon sergeants then got behind their respective vehicles and we were able to cross the line first.
I thought the whole thing was hilarious; when I wasn’t pushing, I was laughing. But some of the guys took it too seriously, wanting to focus on it as punishment instead of something turned into fun. One guy complained, “We were just wrestling! What was wrong with that?” I wise corporal responded, “I dunno dude, I think flashlights on a dark concrete floor had something to do with it.”
