Oklahoma Ain't Got Nothin' On This Place

Greetings and salutations. We're here in the Middle East finally! Actually, we've been here for several days. Why not post? Good question. First and foremost, there's the issue of security and tracking moves and all that. Next, it was a matter of allowing some of the other battalions to not be around the TOC as much, so I could basically have a NIPR connection long enough to post and not annoy someone else who wanted to do something important like check stock prices.

So, we're here. And there's dust everywhere, which makes sense (even in places that are uncomfortable). Needless to say, I'm growing accustomed to it all. Actually, I refuse to believe I'm here. I continue to claim we're actually in the Nevada desert, and all these Arabs are imported.

Yeah, right.

OK, so communications. So far, it's all blog and email for the general populace. With family, I've been calling home using AT&T prepaid cards (great stuff to send to folks over here, by the by... if anyone is willing to send a ton of cards, email me and we'll discuss details). For all of you who check caller ID and refuse to pick up if you don't recognize the number: it might be me. Yup, I have no clue how the number comes across on your end. So...give some thought to NOT checking the damn caller ID. Unless, of course, you don't care to talk. Yes, I know. It might be a telemarketer. Or Avon. Or the Landshark. Or someone who hasn't called in years. Like a friend of mine in Massachusetts, this experience is tempting me to begin blocking caller ID on my calls when I get back home.

Most folks ask us what we're doing here. Basically, we're waiting to flow forward. We have some training and stuff we do, which is good. Me, I'm working on CGSC, which is a very good thing. It's all on CDs now, so knocking it out is fairly easy. Apparently, with deployments being the norm, more and more Regular Army officers began doing CGSC via correspondence and the graders at Leavenworth couldn't keep up with the grading (try teaching high school...). So, "they" reworked the correspondence course, trimmed up the writing requirements and such and repackaged it for those of us who have internet connections that are less than 100% reliable. My goal is to finish the whole thing before I get home. I'm also working out, which is another good thing. I haven't done squats in a long, long, looooong time. Needless to say, standing up from a sitting position is something I feel each time now! :)

We're looking forward to getting forward and becoming familiar with the jobs we're supposed to be doing. By and large, we're professionals, regardless of how many careers we juggle, and this is no different than anything else - want to get where we're supposed to be and do what we're supposed to be doing, period.

That's about all that's fit to print. I could tell you that we're still sleeping on cots, in tents with a lot of my closest friends and that it's hot, but that's rather par for the course. As usual, thank you for the thoughts and prayers.

Enjoy!

He Wrote The Book. Literally

Was trolling through SWJ and found another article. I know, I know, it's in the WAPO (which means annoying pop-up windows). So...mom & dad, give it a read please - it's written by an Army officer. To wit, it's literally written by one of the authors of the newly publish US Army Counterinsurgency (COIN) manual. He discusses what else this country needs to do to continue the successes in Iraq and to up the ante in Afghanistan. Good reading, actually - mentions our success in Iraq (NB: This is a continuing theme with me - hate to hear from friends and relatives the litanies of how poorly the war in Iraq is going. I know it's dangerous and challenging, but that doesn't mean we're not gaining on the enemy.). And it's balanced - he mentions what the country will need to do to gain on the enemy in Afghanistan (personally, I'm not so sure we can really and truly halt the opium production in that country, but I'm pessimistic about that).

Other than that, we continue to wait. Will let you all know when we're there!

Enjoy!

All the news that's fit to publish

This is going to be a catch all post...just so you know.

First, news from abroad. Found this article through Small Wars Journal today. It's in the Financial Times. I know I don't usually peruse that periodical, and I think Jeff might be the only one (maybe Busch too...) who might. In any event, it goes into some detail about a major shift in Muslim thought vis-a-vis AQI. Interesting reading just for more background material.

Next thing, packing. Paul never mentioned a multifunction phone. I have a Samsung Blackjack, and it basically rocks. It's the reason I'm on the internet now. Bottom line, I can store a good dozen books on it, a couple gigs of music, write, email, text message, call and connect to the internet either on the phone itself or use it as a digital modem. Oh, and best of all, it can connect to telenav either with an extra (bluetooth powered) GPS or with the new Blackjack 2. Best gadget in my inventory. Not sure if I mentioned it yet, but going anywhere without a field jacket liner is asking for trouble. I know the fleece jacket is hip and cool, but nothing compares to the field jacket liner.

News, news, and more news. Seems we made the news in Evansville again. In all "personal interest" stories, just remember that there's usually more to any given story than one is told. So, viewer beware of first impressions - don't rely solely on one source of news.

We're back at it here in the deep south. Pass is over, and I know I'm still wishing I were on pass. We had a ton of fun, slept a lot, ate some great meals, drank some great wine and basically just enjoyed being together. No offense folks, but I'm glad Kim came to me and not vice versa. We needed the time alone.

That's it for now. Please keep our Soldiers and their families in your prayers.

Enjoy!

The List

Greetings and salutations, good readers! I'm finally posting the packing list Paul sent. It's edited for content, of course, to some extent. I'm adding in my own twists where appropriate, and intend on revising later in the cycle to make it more user friendly. Essentially, I don't want folks to go through what I did, which is to wait on brigade to issue a packing list that wasn't detail oriented (it's the same one used for Afghanistan...).

Always carry with you when you go somewhere overnight (think of this as your "carry on bag"):
o poncho liner (don't care how damn hot it is, you will NEED this) Not sure if I have room, but will try.
o shower shoes Chaco sandals
o pt shorts & t-shirt
o running shoes (optional)
o shaving kit (I recommend an electric razor, but you like spending time screwing with your hair so....)
NOTE: if you can get travel size stuff for body maintenance, pack that, leave your main stuff in your duffel bag
o laptop (if you leave, take your NIPR laptop and your SIPR geek stick with you) Due to space constraints, this is in a pelican case in the primary duffel bag
o something to read (book, magazine, bubble gum wrapper)
o towel (just like "Hitch hikers Guide", always bring a towel....wisdom man, wisdom) Packtowl. Same thing.
o couple of extra tan t-shirts
o couple of extra socks
o some kind of plastic bag to stuff dirty crap into (like the kind you get at the PX type of bag)
o hard core travel mug (for me this was my constant tie to back home outside of pictures)
o playing cards
o travel cribbage board (OK, that's for me....)
o two DVDs. NOTE: if you partner up with a few other guys you end up with a pretty robust traveling DVD library if you all don't bring the SAME two DVDs. Hard drive with like, two dozen movies ripped onto it. "Magic DVD Ripper" is excellent for this - a feature film will end up as a 1GB wmv file. The external drive is about half full with movies.
OPTIONAL: extra uniform. These take a crap load of room, so it's really your call.
OPTIONAL: snivel gear. I recommend finding a way to attach your gore-tex parka to your carry on somehow, at least until March/April time frame.

Primary duffel bag:
Whatever you do, your sleep system GOES ON TOP.
Couple of uniforms
Rest of PT gear (pants, etc)
Extra snivel gear
Extra pair of boots
Under-roos & t-shirts
Socks, lots of socks Socks & t-shirts bundled in three day groups. Makes unpacking easier
Barracks bag Actually, we need two of these, due to the laundry services at Buehring and farther north.
Extra towel (always carry a towel...I can't say that enough) Full sized towel here, extra towel I sent ahead with the C bag.
PILLOW (this is a tough one - but a high tech guy such as yourself must have some kind of high speed insta-flate pillow right?) Absolutely. Thermarest makes an excellent camp pillow. Sent the full sized one ahead with the footlocker.

Everything else that CSM tells you to carry is B bag or container type crap - it really is (like ruck sack, canteens, fleece pants, civilian clothes, BBQ grill, etc)

Paul's golden rules for OIF/OEF travel:
- Expect to sleep where you stop when in military transit (hence the woobie in the carry on bag)
- Expect to wash your ass where you stop when in military transit Which would entail handy wipes in the carryon.
- Expect military transit to take longer than you expect, even longer than the schedule dictates.
- Try and shove a few energy bars into your carry on. Chow isn't regular or good while in transit.
- ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS take care of nature BEFORE you get on a C-130.
- Expect your duffel to arrive late, if at all.
- CARRY YOUR LAPTOP WITH YOU - ALWAYS No space this time, otherwise I would. Still might, and then just shove books into the pelican case.
- Once in IZ, if traveling back to or through Kuwait, leave the shootin' iron and live ammo with your supply folks in IZ. Trust me, there are no fire fights in the MAC system (despite what the grunts think). And the ammo scares the Air Force guys, make them think there's a war going on and they really don't like that message. They think this whole gig is just an extended ARTEP. Plus the Kuwait dwell guys from 76 IBCT don't have a lot of storage space and if they aren't from your battalion, they really don't care about your sensitive items.
- Travel in a C-130 with your SAPI plates IN. Yeah, they are heavy, but a jump seat in a C-130 has no back support... This time, SAPIs and IOTV are in the B bag. Easier to pack.
- When entering a C-130 for transit, be at the head or tail of the line. AVOID THE MIDDLE. The front has leg room (no seats opposite you) and the back has leg room. Every where else sucks. This is the single area where I actually pull rank from time to time. I know, selfish. And I feel guilty until I realize that I have spent the last 20 years getting this rank.
- If you are staying in Kuwait longer than 3 days, buy a pillow at the PX. When you leave Kuwait, pitch it.
- If you are staying in Kuwait longer than 3 days, seek out a camp chair that someone left behind (trust me, they will be there).
- Large zip lock bags are your friend...
- Once you get somewhere, always memorize dining hall location and hours and where you can plug into NIPR and SIPR.
- During initial deployment and redeployment travel, if you can get away with one duffel and your carry on, do it. Remember that you hump everything, ie you carry everything that you bring with you. This one simple fact alone (plus the fact that I am real lazy) brought me to a "light" realization. When I deployed to Operations Desert Storm, I fit ALL my field gear (including body armor and brain bucket) into two duffel bags and a carry on bag. So far, it's all in two duffels and a carry on. Plan on keeping it that way.

Remember you aren't packing combat optics or stuff like that, nor are you expected to conduct combat operations the minute to hit the ground anywhere. Also, this is a mature theater, so you aren't in need of stuff like stoves or even extended amounts of rations (or dehydrated water for that matter). Combat optics and NVDs go on the M4 while in transit - first, it just looks freakin' cool. Second, easier to keep accountability of it.


That's about it. As usual, comments and such are welcome. Other thoughts:
* Nalgene bottles are excellent, crush proof containers for all the "tangle" stuff - chargers, headphones, etc.
* No travel mug yet, but I do have photos in a travel frame of Kim & me.

Enjoy!

Pressure Relief Valve

We are finally on pass! Kim is here in Savannah with me, we have succeeded in finding the World Market, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks (not that difficult, considering the reach of the "evil empire"...not going to beg forgiveness, as Jeff already knows it's a question of trading time for decent coffee...if anyone knows of fantastic local coffee in Savannah, email or call...otherwise...), Outback (again...if you know a fantastic, inexpensive steakhouse, call), and Best Buy (I left my laptop power supply behind, or it got ganked, or something). Essentially, we've four glorious days together to enjoy the time. Good thing I'm accustomed to operating on six hours of sleep or less.

On a more practical note, training is over. This, in and of itself, is a sobering statement, especially considering that the only time in the Army training is "done" is when we go into combat. The other part to this is the realization I will be celebrating Easter Vigil either in Kuwait or Iraq. Not that we will never train in either place, but the cold reality is both locations are part of a proving ground, of sorts. I have no misconceptions of life as a fobbit - unless I go out of my way, I will not be required to leave the wire at all. Life in Mosul, despite AQI's claims and what might be reported on CNN right now, is relatively safe, according to the folks we're slated to replace here shortly. Don't want to make any decisions on that right now.

Paul, just spent the last couple of weeks with Will. He's back in command. He's an outstanding officer and commander - tough, wily and energetic. Glad he's on our side. He literally kept the OPFOR off our tails for a full week just being in charge of base "defense".

I've learned a ton over the last few weeks as the XO, while the XO proper has been forward. Great lessons, which boil down to some basics:
1. There are no new leadership techniques or lessons. We've already learned the basics, it's just a matter of applying them to the level we're at. To wit, running a staff is not a whole lot different than running a squad, just different ranks and individual tasks.
2. No leader can afford to never get his teeth bloody. Jim White taught me this one and it continues to pay dividends.
3. The essence of military professionalism can be summed up by: be professional, be polite, be prepared to kill. Unfortunately, the words are not mine, but they're true.

In an earlier post, I "dropped the dime" on Paul vis-a-vis the packing list. He has since responded to me directly and I have a packing list I will post here (with my own annotations, of course). One would think this packing thing is simple, and it is...once one is "down range."

That's all for now. I have some web surfing to catch up on and watch my wife sleep. Oh, and some wine to finish.

Enjoy!