8-14 January 2011

8-14 January 2011

This week is filled with mixed emotions. Scotty left on the 8^th and headed home. The day he flew out happened to be my first day off. After sleeping in an extra hour and playing possum for another hour, I poked my head out and there was Scotty and Lettice on the sidewalk between the CHU’s. Scotty still needed to take his bags over to PAX and we agreed to meet at the Green Beans when he finished his chores. Lettice and I went to the Faiz Shop where I picked up some chic flicks and the complete Private Practice series. Movies are only $2, but you are taking your chances. While watching Eat, Pray, Love, I had subtitles either in Turkish, Hindu or Farsi. It was all Greek to me. You get what you pay for.  We met at the Green Beans and I ordered my iced MOAC, no sugar, with cream. My first MOAC of the tour and it was as good as I remembered. This was my first MOAC and the last time I would see Scotty, a little bitter sweet. Scotty left us to hunt down a missing bag of his and Lettice and I headed home.

Lettice was going to go to the PAX terminal to see Scotty off and I agreed to meet in an hour. When the time came I just couldn’t do it. Scotty is my first goodbye this trip. It amazes me how compact time is here. I worked with him for only 9 days and by the end of the week our turnover was complete and he would just pop in and say hi as he had turned everything over by that point. I might never see Scotty again, but I know without a doubt, if I am ever in Georgia, I have a friend for life that I can call on. One day here equals a month. After a few days working side by side you feel as though that person has been your friend or co-worker for years.

Maybe it’s the assumed trust we have in each other. I not only trust those I work with, I blindly trust those whom I pass on the sidewalks and trust those protecting my life that I never see.  Civil courtesies and politeness are the norm here. People say please and thank you. Strangers hold the door without a second thought. A short talk or a shared work week makes instant friendships.

I'm re-reading this and proofreading and rather than delete I will correct my earlier statement. I should not use the the word "blind" because I do size people up when passing on the sidewalk. I look at how they carry themselves when they walk, do they walk with purpose or diddy bop with no idea of their surroundings. And more importanly, I look at how they carry their weapon, is it a part them or a cumbersome hassle. Situational awareness will tell you a lot.

I still can not explain the instant bonds that are made and maybe its something Ill never be able to, I just know it exists and I only experience it here.

As I said good bye to one friend, I said hello to a new a friend.  I met a person who I have a feeling will be one of my best friends here. Under other circumstances she would be what I call trouble and a bad influence on me. Of course I say that with a grin and a twinkle in my eye; in other words, a perfect combination of attributes I find to be a positive. Her name is Robyn and she is the manager of the USO here. She recently promoted into the position of manger and has worked for the USO for several years. She started volunteering her Saturdays and quickly realized Saturdays were her favorite day and began dreading the remaining six. Robyn followed her passion, quit her job and now works full time. She calls herself a modern day gypsy. The post she had prior to Baghdad was Basrah and she has some pretty good tales to tell from that place. My two tours can’t compare to the living conditions or threat level of what she has seen and lived. Oh yes, I forgot to mention she went to Paris Island in 1991! Ooh Rah! She is a spit fire with a heart of gold. She truly enjoys what the mission of the USO is and gives everything to it. The USO is located next door to where I work and I pop over whenever I can.

Part of my personal mission while here, is to get out of the port, meet people and be involved.  The Top 3, which is an organization for E7-E9 meets every other week to discuss how to provide professional development, mentorship and guidance to the enlisted ranks. I attended my first meeting last Thursday and enjoyed it. The meeting followed the agenda, was quick and on topic. Fortunately, the airflow supported me leaving work for a little bit and I walked over as the meeetings are during my shift. I'm hoping to meet other Top 3 as well and maybe develop work contacts. I guess this would be called networking in the civilian world.

One of my troops went to Freedom Rest for three days. It’s a place on the other side near the palaces where troops serving longer than 6 months can go for R&R. It offers alcohol plus different amenities and a pool. My guy chose to take his three days here in place at Sather, rather than go over. He said the two beers a day rule would have just pissed him off, plus he was going solo and wouldn’t have had friends to hang with. He had a point. The agreement made prior to my arrival was during the three days, there would be no days off since we would be losing our extra person. I bought pizza for the shop to let them know I appreciated their hard work. Not having a day off in two weeks is hard.

We have had a few “Alarm Blacks” since we arrived, but things seem to be cooling off. Historically, BIAP has been attacked during Christmas and New Years and then it tapers off. Although, we go red then black followed by green, there is little threat to us at Sather. We suit up, take accountability and wait for green. I said earlier we are surrounded by the other bases/camps and that makes it very difficult to reach us.  We also have "controlled det.” As in Bagram, the Giant Voice will usually announce the detonations prior to. What really happens is the voice tells afterwards or you cant hear it at all. Its always a surprise. Whenever we hear/feel the boom, we look at each other with the unsaid question is it or is it not. After one night of an alarm black, we went home as usual after shift. The next morning I hear a loud boom and my little CHU shook. It woke me up and then another big boom. It was right in the middle of my sleep and I couldn’t hear any Giant Voice announcements. I went back to sleep and figured if it was important ATOC would start accountability and call my room. No call came and I went right back to sleep. I later found out the controlled det was actually 12 booms and I had slept thru most it.

We are now armed 24/7 and again, I must repeat how happy I am to have an M9. While most are lugging around the M16, I only have the shoulder holster. Part of the arming was consolidating armories and they took my armory away. The Duty Officer’s office looks rather bare with the M16s and racks taken away and looks rather ordinary. I'm told it is all a part of the drawdown and starting March, all deployers will bring their own weapon from home and the weapons here will be rotated back to the States as troops go home.  

There are little changes happening all over if you pay attention. Next week sometime the remaining haji stores outside our mini PX will be gone. The Harley Davidson store is also closing and giving last minute deals. No, you cant ride your bike here, but you purchase it and have it shipped home, supposedly the prices are cheaper. The car dealerships like Ford have already pulled out. The shopping area is like a ghost town and I never see people sitting under the awnings. I'm told its because its cold and people are hibernating, but I'm not completely convinced. We were told the number of how many troops are here and it is relatively low number all things considered. Its just an odd feeling this time around and I cant quite place it.