Weblog:

  • Kandahar Air Field

    Okay so we’ve been here several weeks now and it’s time I set about trying to start describing things. When we first arrived I got a pit in my stomach like, “oh crap,” but you have to look around and remind yourself that it’s going to be all right. We landed on that airstrip and loaded… Read more

  • Troop Movement

    So last we spoke we were at NAIACT getting trained up on Army principles.  During that course we had two ice storms and an earthquake (4.4 on Richter Scale). So the weather wasn’t great but so what? We had one glorious night at the bar on our camp.  Concrete block walls and no frills, but… Read more

  • NIACT (Naval Individual Augmentee Combat Training)

    The Navy is not a natural pick for service in Afghanistan because Afghanistan is a land-locked nation, one which would be lucky to have a lake much less an ocean.  But Afghanistan has been a very big job and for many years the Army has needed extra bodies to help with it, so over this time in… Read more

  • NEMTI: Naval Expeditionary Medical Training Institute

    Last week we spent in San Diego, “in-processing,” which means we were having all of our orders checked, our medical and dental status’ re-checked, getting fit for uniforms, ensuring (as best as possible) our pay accounts were up to date, polishing off any legal issues, and just getting to know one another, This week has… Read more

  • Moblization

    Moblization

    The flight from Chicago landed at about 7:45 pm.  In contrast to the rocky liftoff we had back home in which our plane (buffeted by polar vortex winds) rocked alarmingly, in San Diego both the final approach and the landing gear’s touchdown onto the runway were as smooth as silk, probably because the weather outside was so perfect.… Read more

  • Bon Voyage

    Well, YESTERDAY was tough.  After years of knowing that it would someday come to pass and after months of knowing the precise where/when/and how it would come to pass, it finally did come to pass:  I had to go deploy. By the time I awoke in the am Helen was already exercising in the basement… Read more