USA

Getting closer...now at Bangor, Maine.  America.  Just saying.

En route

Only have a minute, plus I really hate pecking on my iPod Touch. But I wanted to let my legions of fans (hi mom!) know that all's well and I am out of Afghanistan. After a delightful stay in Manas, Kyrgyzstan ("The New Jersey of the East"), we're currently on layover in Germany. ATTENTION local Islamist gunmen: come and get us, you shitbags.

Sorry, where was I?

Oh yeah, Germany. We're about 77 hours into our journey home, counting from when we said goodbye to our Afghani-cans and boarded the busses to the flight line. More on that will have to wait till I have more time, and more keyboard.

Wrapping up

Last Sunday, my replacement made it in after several agonizing (for me) delays, and on Monday we began doing turnover.  That was a day I've been looking forward to for a long time.

Doing turnover, I realized two things.  First, we actually got some good things done out here.  You can lose sight of it in the daily grind but turnover makes you look at where you started and where you are now, and we'll definitely leave the place better and more secure than we found it.  So that's something.

Second and related, I realized I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to build an AT/FP program from almost nothing.  It was definitely a beast, especially the first few months, but it gave us the chance to design things the way we thought they should be.  That was a good experience, and a rewarding one.

That said, I'm pretty stoked to be turning the whole damn thing over to my replacement.  The last few days I've been showing him around, answering a lot of questions, etc.  Then late last night after I'd wrapped up the last few things I had to do, I drove down to the flight line, parked the truck and smoked a cigar I'd bought for just this purpose when I first got on deck.  I'd been tempted to smoke that stogie many times - and eat the bar of white chocolate Toblerone I'd also bought the day Gunny D and I discovered the Shangri-La of the Danish PX - but I'd held off until I was truly done.  It was nice to relax and reflect a little with the outbound rotors and inbound heavies providing the background noise.

(I know what you're thinking - white chocolate with a cigar?  That's what I thought - they'd kind of ruin each other - but they actually went GREAT together.  Each one brought out the flavor of the other.  Try it some time if you don't believe me.)

Anyway, now we've just got one timeless Marine Corps tradition left - the Hurry Up and Wait.  Some time soon (a few hours? a few days?) we'll say goodbye to Afghanistan and before the week is out I should be back home.  In the timeless words of the Beastie Boys: it'sabouttimeit'sabouttimeit'sabouttimeit'saboutti-ime.

Best memories from deployment:

• Working with the SRT – I’ve written about this previously.  Those Marines and our compound security Marines exceeded my expectations, and everyone who worked with them commented on their professionalism, their seeming inability to get complacent, and the high standard they set for the rest of the base.  BZ to them.
   
• Going out on patrol.  Sure, it was just a few clicks outside the wire but it was great to meet some locals, have some tea, talk to them and see how they live.  These last two informed my opinion of the war, the country and the future more than all the reading and studying I ever did. 
   
• Flying around the AO.  Flying anywhere on helos is fun.  Seeing the AO (area of operations) from the air was memorable, as was spending time on the deck at some of the smaller FOBs.  Wish I could have done more of this.
   
• Spending time in the DASC.  It’s not the most glamorous MOS but you have a complete, real-time view of the war: every TIC (troops in contact), every casevac, every call for fire, every everything.  And of course you’re not just an observer; you’re the one getting the medevac bird to the patient or diverting aircraft to support an immediate air request.  Also, the nature of the job scratches a certain itch for me.  If you’re familiar with the traveling salesman problem, the DASC is kind of like that, only in 3D, at 300 knots and with real bombs and bullets.  There’s a certain pressure in there that focuses your mind, and I like that.
   
• Softball on gravel. 
   
• Vacations at KAF
   
• Lighting Hanukkah candles with my fellow MOTs.  You may think the IDF is the spiritual descendant of the Macabees, but as far as I’m concerned it’s the Jewish warriors of the Marine Corps.

Things I’ll miss about Afghanistan:

•  

Well I think that covers it.  Next post: Manas.  Yeah baby!

Making friends

Winning hearts and minds

Life after Leatherneck

Some time in the next week (or so) my replacement will arrive.  Some time within a week (or so) after that, I will leave.  A few days later I'll be home.  Could time be moving any slower right now.

But after I get home, and after the 96, the transition week, the check-out/check-in process and so on, I'll head out for my long awaited 30 days of post-deployment leave.  I'm going on a road trip.  Let me explain.

When I was a kid, we went on lots of road trips as a family.  Despite this, I love jumping in my car - alone or with company - and escaping the suffocating tangle of city/coastal traffic for the open road where I can crank up the stereo, soak in the amazing scenery and feel the wind on my highly aerodynamic scalp.

Also I grew up all over as many of you know, and between that and other experiences I've got friends stashed in just about every part of the country.  So this will be a chance to catch up with them (you) as I city-hop.  Clear your calendar, and lock up your valuables. 

Places where I'll be stopping along the way:

• Grand Junction, CO - just a pit stop.  Don't think I know anyone who lives around here.  Still, the drive through the Rockies should be stunning.
• Lincoln, NE - where I lived as a kid.  Gonna try to track down some old friends, and of course visit the old neighborhood.  I'll probably swing through Omaha on my way out.
• Cleveland, OH - another pit stop, I think.  Anyone I know live there?
• Conway, NH - visiting pappy, celebrating Passover.
• NYC/NJ - visiting family and friends and writing a love note to Gov Christie
• DC - nuff said.  I think I'm gonna put together a BBQ dinner one night somewhere, probably Saturday, April 30th so save the date.  Dinner will be followed by merriment.
• Atlanta - by this point in the trip I should be with my two brothers if everything works out.  Brother 1 lived in Atl so this is mainly for him, however NB I want to see you (for reals this time) and finally meet little P.
• Montgomery and Mobile, AL - family-in-law, friends (if any even still live here) and hopefully some deep sea fishing.  I haven't spoken to GH and fam about this but if you're reading this - hey!  Let's go fishing.  HHM I don't think you waste your time on this blog but if you do - I'll call you and we'll figure something out.  Maybe I'll drive through B'ham.
• Then it's cross country to Sedona, AZ - possibly the most beautiful town I've ever seen.  I spent a day at the Grand Canyon when I moved out west from Quantico, but this time I plan to hike down, camp out on the CO river and hike back up the next day.  Brother 1, bring your inhaler.

After that, it's back to Oceanside, CA.  That's the current plan anyway.  PT, I had to cut the Yellowstone piece - not enough time.  But on my next trip I'm going there and hopefully you'll be able to join me.  I'll obviously see you in NYC though.

So anyway, that's the immediate post-Afghanistan plan.  A few of you have asked me what comes next for me, big picture.  The answer, as always in the Marine Corps, is whothehellknows.  But I'll give you my best guess...

I'll obviously report back to my unit, MASS-3, where I've been officially stationed for 2 years this July, but where I've so far spent probably 3 or 4 weeks total, not counting OJT.  So I'll be due for some quality time in my MOS, which is to say doing some exercises and drills and spending lots of time in some auxiliary billet. 

Beyond that, I'm already looking forward to the next thing.  In other words, while training and the like are important, and while I'll certainly enjoy some garrison time after this last year, I didn't join the Marine Corps to sit behind a desk in Southern California.  I joined to sit behind a desk in Afghanistan.  I joined to do the kinds of things you can't do as a civilian.  If I had my pick, I think I'd like to go on a MEU - a 6-7 month float preceded by an up to 6-month pre-float workup.  You get to visit various ports, conduct exercises with allied nations, possibly respond to world crises or, as the 26th MEU is currently doing, deploy to augment OEF in Afghanistan, etc.  While you're on ship, there's a good deal of boredom but it's also a great opportunity to PT, get ahead in your professional military education (PME) and best of all get to know the Marines in your charge and the other Marines and sailors around you. 

Well I think that covers it.  Whether you read this on FB or my blog, if you live in or near a city on the great Morgapalooza 2011 tour, I expect some quality face time.  Tickets are selling fast.

 

My sweet ride

Clever Title

Just checking in really to let you know everything's still well and post some pics from the last week or so.

We got some rain.  In total about 0.6 inches.  But the ground is so hard here (they call it clay but it's as hard as concrete) that it apparently doesn't absorb much water.  And don't ask me why, but the rain STINKS around here.  I mean really smells. Like poop.

flush flood

I'm still in the DASC - working mornings now, so my days start around 0430 and go till at least 1900.  But I've been so pampered out here, I'm kind of enjoying the challenge and the modest sleep deprivation.  My only wish is that there were no civilian air traffic out here - mostly it consists of old Soviet-era birds flown by drunk Russian octegenarians.  Between their English-speaking skills, slurred speech and decrepit radios our RIOs (radio in/out) alternate between the futile and the comical.

The coldest of the winter is behind us, as I might have already mentioned.  Right now I'm sitting in the sun in I'd guess the high 50's or low 60's.  Feels great.  When I get back, after my long shower and two-day nap I'm going to go to the beach and soak in the sun until I can actually feel the melanoma set in.  Less than three weeks now, and I'm giddier than a school girl with Justin Bieber backstage passes. 

Behind the wire...behind me in 3 weeks.

Oh I almost forgot: shout out to Mr. McL's history class in Maine.  I heard you're being forced to read some of these posts.  If that's true, I'm really sorry.  I'll try to make them shorter.

This is not a drill

It’s February, it’s raining, and I’m inside the one-month mark. Partly, it’s hard to believe that I’m actually counting down days now, instead of weeks or months. But if ever a year felt longer than the sum of its days, this was it, so the fact that February has finally decided to show up has left me more relieved than thrilled.

Just before the rain...

It’s been a month or so since my last post, so first a recap of what’s been going on.

As I’ve written before, the best part of my job is that I have a group of security Marines that I train and employ from time to time. They aren't security Marines by MOS (just as my MOS is not AT/FP - no such MOS in fact), but that just means I have a clean slate to work with, a group of comm, logistics, supply, law, etc. Marines who enjoy the opportunity to get out of their shops and do some quasi-real Marine stuff a few times a month.

Practicing clearing rooms and buildings

Trigger-puller

Consummate Professionals

One morning last month I got the “this is not a drill” call. In about 3 minutes I’d notified the command deck and called up the SRT (sector response team). They were ready to go much faster than expected or required, and we spent most of the day dealing with the security issue, performing missions we’d rehearsed and some we’d never anticipated. Despite the rumors, contradictions and miscommunications (fog of war, I guess), the Marines performed beyond anyone’s expectations. As always, I obviously can’t share details but I can say that everything turned out fine and everyone is safe.

During the incident

Motivators

In other news, on 1 Feb we had our post office day, and I sent home (well actually to you BK) two foot lockers full of stuff I don’t need, didn’t know I had and probably won’t keep. But it was worth it, just for the symbolism. I’ll send home at least 1 more foot locker (where did I keep all this stuff??), and travel home with the bare minimum.

Aside from all that, the usual ongoing projects and the constant integration of new units (the MEU is here as you may have read), the main focus has been preparing for turnover. Ultimately, the success of the AT/FP program over the next year will be up to our replacements, but we’ve worked hard to build it up and we’re trying to ensure that it endures and grows once we’re gone.

Also I’ve been back in the DASC lately, and after working off the rust – controlling is an intensive and highly perishable skill – I should finally be earning my HD (helicopter director) qualification in the next week or two. TAD (tactical air, i.e. fixed wing) will have to wait for exercises back home.

So between all that and trying to shed the winter flubber that I’ve put on courtesy of the long tons of junk food you American-types sent us over the holidays, my days have been pretty full. Soon, soon, I’ll get home to my 96, my “warrior transition week” and soon after, my 30 days of post-deployment leave, plans for which I’ll have to tell you about in a future post.

Oh yeah, and I got to play with tanks.

Happy New Year

Hope you enjoyed my last post (rant), or at least weren’t scared away by it.  Needed to get that out of my system. 

It is 2011 and this calls for celebration.  Alas, celebration has been banned by the MST (Morale Suppression Team) so instead I’m posting this blog…post.  Post-posting this post I will post a post-post post, just so I can say I’ve done it. 

My donut says I have only some 10 weeks left in this paradise (which as you can see is putting strains on my sanity), depending on which end date I use for calculation. 

 

Now that New Year’s is behind us, the milestones will (hopefully) start to come quickly:

• Post office day, when we send home (home!) large boxes of assorted accumulated arbitrary crap at bulk rates
• WTB – warrior transition brief – when we are reminded not to go nuts on returning home and are briefed on such subjects as “transitional intimacy” (first base, second base…)
• The day my replacement gets here
• The day after that day, when I drop my pack so violently it registers on the Richter scale Correction: I would never drop my pack
• And of course the day I leave Afghanistan, the day I leave theater, the day I land in Miramar, the day I enjoy my first long, scalding hot, damn-the-water-bill, uninterrupted shower since R&R.
• The day I overdose on all of House, Season 7 in one glorious, gluttonous binge.

I owe you pictures of my promotion to 1stLt, a feat only achieved by Marine 2ndLts who have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt their ability to spell their own names (minimum 75% accuracy required).  Figuring I’d never get the chance again, I had myself sworn in and pinned on by the MAW CG (commanding general), since I’m a member of his staff.   

 I, being of sound mind and body, do hereby bequeath...uh, what sir?

 Reading the warrant

 BGen O and Lt M pinning me on

Lastly, I saw this video (link fixed) this morning, put out by our public affairs office.  Nice little wrap-up of the year in Helmand.  I remember all these milestones and was present at several of the shots - you can see me in one, saluting the colors. 

  

1stLt - no more excuses