c-bag

In the Army, they issue us a lot of gear...and I do mean a lot. After arriving at Camp Shelby last July, I turned in everything I was signed for from Iowa, and kept only $100.00 of my old gear. Some of the items I turned in at Camp Shelby had been in my possession for over 15 years. Yes, it was hard for this Infantryman to say goodbye to some beloved gear that had sustained him for many years in the field and while deployed to Afghanistan before. However, it was time to move on to bigger and better things...although I did gladly accept a $9.00 statement of charges and kept my two favorite one quart canteens that I've had since basic training! (I'm a loser for admitting that I did that, I know)

Soon after turning in everything, I received my new issue of gear. Gone are the days of a Soldier/Sailor walking around toting nothing more than a duffel bag. In just personal clothing items alone, I am now signed for over $4,500.00 in gear, which reflects the Military's replacement cost...don't even ask me what the retail cost is. And oh yea, personal clothing doesn't include weapons, weapons parts/accessories, gas masks, night vision goggles, GPS, etc.

In just BAGS alone, I am signed for a large rucksack, a medium rucksack, a small rucksack (assault pack), three duffel bags and one "roller" duffel bag...all of which are required for carrying all the non-bag items I am issued. Each bag is given a letter designator (A BAG, B BAG, etc.). The Company leadership first directs what gear to place in each bag, and then which bag goes on which differing mode of transportation on which day, etc. (this is why I am not a logistics officer, talk about a headache).

Although it is nice to be a member of an Army that equips its' Soldiers so thoroughly, it is also a burden to try to keep track of it all. We are constantly throwing our bags on everything that moves. For example, since leaving Iowa my bags have traveled on semis, moving vans, buses, cars, trains, civilian air craft, military aircraft, cargo ships and jingle trucks. Amazingly, I have been able to keep track of everything, that is until recently...when I was advised that my C-Bag is "missing." This did not come as a shock. When I loaded my C-Bag (a classic green Army duffel bag) last August, I had a feeling it wouldn't be seen again...given it's daunting itinerary. I'll try to piece together the facts as I understand them.

In August at Camp Shelby, we hand loaded our C-Bags onto an FMTV (Army Truck). I'm not sure where my C-Bag went to next...either it ended up on a train at the Camp Shelby rail yard, or it ended up on a bonded carrier for semi transport. Either way, one of these two modes of travel (train or semi) took my C-Bag to a port on the Gulf Coast, where it was transferred to a cargo ship (or as we call it, the "slow boat"). Next, the slow boat traveled through the Gulf of Mexico, across the Atlantic Ocean, through the Mediterranean Sea, through the Suez Canal, through the Red and Arabian Seas before finally arriving in........Karachi, Pakistan.

This is where things get sketchy (shocking, I know). Next up was my C-Bag's planned journey from Karachi to Bagram via jingle truck. Apparently, no one is quite sure what happened during that 1500 mile journey through some of the most treacherous terrain on Earth (and not to mention a War). It's probably safe to say that no one will ever know for sure. Hundreds of these trucks and their containers go missing along this route each year. One logistics officer from our Brigade secretly suspects that this is America's way of indirectly providing additional aid to Pakistan...in exchange for allowing us to cross the border now and then to conduct drone strikes on enemy camps. Seems a little too conspiracy theory for me. There are also reports the container that my bag was in is actually here on Bagram, but is lost amongst the tens of thousands of containers that are piled up everywhere here.

The likely scenario to me (and everyone else here) is that the truck was intercepted by the enemy. Throughout the history of War, some of the greatest Armies have always been the ones that could stretch their supply lines the furthest. Although we have proven that our supply lines know no boundaries, our supply lines are still susceptible to many things. Loss of some items is acceptable I guess, and the enemy constantly hits our supply line that runs through Pakistan.

Below is the packing list I drafted last August, and recently provided to my Company so I can be re-issued my missing gear. What makes me sick is what was in the bag...not only did I likely provide one enemy fighter with enough cold weather gear to get him comfortably through the upcoming winter...he also ended up with my aforementioned canteens that I have had since basic training in Oklahoma, 1995. Bummer!Also in the bag (but not listed) were many of the books on my reading list. I'll reconcile my reading list once I figure out which books went missing. Come to think of it, most of the books were of Christian genre...I suppose there is a chance that God is up to something? Now there's something to think about. That's one way of spreading the Gospel!

clear day (again)

By now I'm sure some of you are probably tired of seeing pictures of the mountains. Well, I'm not tired of taking pictures of them (when they are visible)...so deal with it. The pictures do not do these mountains any justice. This stretch of the Hindu Kush Mountain Range (a sub range of the Himalayas) is breath taking. I took some video, although be forewarned that you might get motion sickness trying to keep up with the picture. Today was extraordinary...clear skies and 65-70 degrees. A great way to end the year...if you can look past the fact that you're deployed to Afghanistan and haven't been home for 5 months.

The snow is accumulating slower than I thought, but it is accumulating.

the reflective belt.

I alluded to this in a post not too long ago. Ahhh, the reflective belt. Where to begin...here's my issue...It's not that I have a problem with reflective belts, it's what the reflective belt stands for that I have a problem with.

During my first few years in the Army, the "old" physical fitness uniforms were nothing more than plain gray T-shirts, shorts, sweat pants and a hooded sweat shirt. That was it. They worked fine, and we were content. Then the Army decided they had to change things...which is an ever increasing issue in and of itself...I am after all wearing my fourth different set of camouflage (woodland, desert, digital, multicam) in 5 years...think "contractors" and then all this change begins to make "cents".

Anyway, when the Army introduced the new physical fitness uniform, it was marketed as "revolutionary." The material would keep us warmer (it doesn't), it would dry more quickly (who cares, they still stink after one workout) and all four new items were complete with built in reflective material (here's where our problem began), which would prevent you from getting run over by any more cars (not that I ever had this problem).

Shortly after the introduction of the new uniform, I began noticing people wearing the reflective belt. It started out as their great idea, and then quickly got out of control. The logic is simple from their perspective I guess. If reflective material is good, then why not a little bit more to be sure? (Disregard the fact that none of these clowns wore a reflective belt with their old uniform)

I mean after all, too many Soldiers were/are getting run over by cars! We must do something?! Right? To date, I have yet to meet a single Soldier who has been so much as touched by a vehicle while out running, let alone anyone that claims they owe their life to a reflective belt.

I am a simpleton, and I am proud of it. I will concede that maybe I just don't have the brain capacity to understand the "bigger picture." That said, I just don't understand how we went from the old physical fitness uniform with no reflective material, to the out of control mess we now find ourselves in...in which Soldiers in a combat theater are wearing these things in plain sight of the enemy in the interest of "safety." Many other Soldiers (at least the common sense ones) are wondering the same thing...which tells me that I am either not crazy and I have a point, or I have lots of crazy friends. Either way is fine with me, I'm making a point here (not sure what) and I am not turning back now.

So this brings me back to my main point I think (I know, finally), which is what the reflective belt stands for. It stands for another one of those unnecessary things that I must do as a member of the military. It is yet another rule I must follow that has seemingly little to no common sense applied to it, and God forbid if I ask why. The reflective belt is why so many civilians see the term "military intelligence" as an oxymoron.

In the Military, we do many things quite well. We are master problem solvers, planners, tacticians, and patriots. We are the last earthly hope for so many people in a world that continues to cave in upon itself. Our Soldiers are prepared to go anywhere and kill or shake hands with whomever they meet. We are so darn good at so many complex things, and yet I cannot understand why we fail to miss the simple truth that the reflective belt is over-the-top nonsense...courtesy of the good idea fairy (who coincidentally happens to be related to the driver of the great idea bus).

There, I said it. It's off my chest. I feel a little better. Below is some reflective belt humor from my fellow underground common sense Soldiers...

Wow.

good news.

I was informed by the dermatologist a couple days ago that "no residual basal cell carcinoma" was identified in my second biopsy...meaning that other than some scaring caused by the 2 biopsies, this episode is now in the past.

111th Congress

Just wanted to say "thanks" to the 111th Congress for their support of an Army at War. I just received word of your generous 1.4% pay raise for 2011 (2009 = 3.9% increase, 2010 = 3.4% increase), the smallest pay raise for the military since 1962. This news arrives on the heels of the 1% reduction (first time ever) in my 2011 housing allowance, which I am still waiting to see if I will be grandfathered in under or not. I guess you don't have much left to lose when your approval rating is less than 1 in 5.

Merry Christmas.

Just returned from the Christmas Eve service at the Chapel here on Base. Not much to say tonight, I'm tired and looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow morning. The message tonight was good, simple and plainly stated. Jesus is the reason for the season (and every other day as well). It's NOT about the tree, it's NOT about the gifts and it's NOT about the lights. It IS about the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Merry Christmas to everyone, wherever in the world you are reading this from.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17.

Christmas Eve service at Bagram.

small world...

I ran into a fellow Winterset resident today. Eric is deployed here with the Iowa National Guard as part of an Agricultural Development Team in Kunar Province (separate from the Brigade deployment I am on). Eric's son Brady is here with the Brigade on Bagram. They were able to arrange it so they can spend Christmas together. I'm glad the reunion was able to work out for them...seems unfathomable to me to imagine spending Christmas over here with Grant?! My thoughts and prayers go out to Eric's wife/Brady's Mom 'Monica' during Christmas this year.

then & now

Since arriving here at Bagram in mid-October, it seems there isn't a day that goes by that I don't pass by a building or an area here in which I am not reminded of something from 5-6 years ago. Bagram is hard to describe from this standpoint...some things have not changed at all...things that I assumed would have been changed years ago. And then there are things I thought would have always remained, but are now completely different.

I first arrived at Bagram on May 30th, 2004. One month earlier, Pat Tillman (click the hyperlink if you don't know the story) had been killed in Khowst Province (ironically only a few miles from where my platoon was eventually headed). In the aftermath of Tillman's death, the USO decided to name it's new building on Bagram in honor of the fallen football star. Below is a picture I took in 2004, as well as 2 pictures I took today...6 years and 3 days apart.

DEC 20th, 2004

DEC 23rd, 2010

DEC 23rd, 2010

100th post

I noticed that this is my 100th post to the blog. Not sure what that has to do with anything, but any milestones while deployed seem worth noting!

Just a couple pics to share of the mountains this morning. High winds yesterday helped to clear out the smog again.

UAE

There are many dining facilities here on Bagram to choose from, although no matter where you go to eat, the food is almost always the same.

One of the dining facilities that is not normally accessible is operated by the UAE...United Arab Emirates...(a country known mainly because of Dubai). Three times a week, they allow other coalition countries to dine in. We stopped in tonight for dinner...and I of course had to take a picture of my meal...mainly because I wanted evidence of what I was about to eat in the event that something went horribly wrong.

The food was decent, although it doesn't take much variety at this point for me to be impressed by a meal. Still not quite sure what all I had for dinner, although I think it's safe for me to rule out pork.

Not sure what was in the bowl on the left...it was kinda like that sauce they put on gyro's. The dish on the right was olive juice...I didn't quite get it. The rest is rice, chicken, goat, flatbread and some deep fried pot sticker like things.

Not sure why the Italians can't open up a dining facility?! Pizza sounds really good right now.

blanket party

Again, thanks to Fons and Porter for the quilts!

DC Cupcakes

We received these cupcakes from the wife of Admiral Mullen, who is currently the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Apparently, when they (Admiral Mullen and his wife) arrived here last week they brought along eight thousand of these cupcakes to be delivered to the troops. They were delivered to our office boxed in dry ice, unopened since being packaged in the States. I think these were the best cupcakes I've ever had.

USO Show.

The USO usually sponsors a couple of entertainment shows that come through Afghanistan this time of year. Tonight while I was walking to dinner, I stopped to take a pic. On stage is Robin Williams, whom I met the last time I was here in Afghanistan (he must make it over here often?). Lance Armstrong and some country bands were here as well. That's all I have for pictures, I didn't really feel like attending tonight...it was cold, and the lines were long.

Also of note...you'll notice all of the reflective belts in the photos I took. Sometime in the future, I'll post some of my thoughts on the reflective belt, and some of the spoofs I have collected over time regarding the Army and their obsession with safety. The Army has become so risk adverse, that they literally place Soldiers lives in danger in the interest of safety...not sure if that made sense. For example, all of the Soldiers you see in the pictures above are only 100-200 feet from the perimeter of the Base...not sure how much sense it makes in assisting the enemy in identifying targets! It's one of those things that could only happen in the U.S. Military.

timmy.

Timmy, the combat stress dog that has no business hanging out with our group (not a whole lot of combat stress in my office) stopped by again today...good to see he is now wearing a RED BULL patch! Welcome to the club Timmy!

man of the house.

While on pass in Mississippi, Grant and I had a father and son chat about how he would be the man of the house. We discussed things like how he could help look after Mommy and Brynna, and how he could help with some of the chores around the house. Judging from the picture below that Jessica just sent me, it looks as though the little guy is doing a good job!

update.

Just to follow-up on the biopsy I had a few weeks ago. The biopsy came back showing that I did indeed have basal cell carcinoma. After consulting with the Dermatologist, she conducted an additional biopsy a few days ago to determine if all the cancer cells were removed during the first procedure. I will know more in a couple of weeks. If this second biopsy comes back positive as well, then it's off to Germany for a few days for a Mohs procedure. Let's hope (and pray) that this little bit of drama ends here!

fons and porter

My bosses wife works in Winterset for a quilting store called Fons and Porter. The store decided to make quilts for everyone in our operations section for Christmas...somewhere between 25-30 of us. I recieved my quilt today. They are extremely well made, as you would expect from a Nationally known store. Each quilt is complete with a name plate dedicated to each of us. Very thoughtful and very appreciated. Be sure to stop by their store on the square if you're ever in Winterset!

My quilt.

Again...thanks very much to my boss and his wife, Fons and Porter, and all the volunteers that assisted with the project.

snow is starting...

Smog wasn't too bad today...you can see snow beginning to accumulate.

North...Panjshir

West

West agian...these are the mountains I posted a few days ago that didn't have any snow...

combat patch.

Today, our Headquarters Company conducted our combat patch ceremony.

All Soldiers, regardless if they have deployed or not, wear their unit patch on the left shoulder of their uniform. After being deployed in a combat theater for 30 days, Soldiers are authorized to wear their unit patch on their right shoulder as well, for the remainder of their career.

Our unit patch is the 34th Infantry Division "Red Bull." I was awarded the Red Bull patch on my last deployment here, and was awarded it again today. A fellow Captain pictured with me above, Kyle, was awarded the Red Bull patch in Iraq in 2005. Although you only wear one patch at a time, we posed for this photo signifying that we have now been awarded the Red Bull twice.

LTC Keeley (referred to previously in this blog as "my bosses boss") and COL Amundson (my bosses bosses boss) who is second in command of the Iowa Soldiers here in Afghanistan. This was their first award of the patch...Rookie Colonels! (Lets hope they don't read my blog!)

adobe connect

In recent years, the military has embraced online meetings through a program called "adobe connect." They are a very convenient way to telecommute, and are a necessity here in theater as they reduce our dependence on air travel and ground convoys. One of the other advantages is being able to catch some sleep...as MAJ Ferguson has recently discovered!

Christmas Tree.

Here's the tree that is in our office. One of our Sergeants had it mailed over. Grant gets credit for the red and green paper chain...good job Grant! Also pictured are Christmas cards and snowflakes from an elementary class in Iowa.

ntc videos

A couple of videos the National Training Center produced for our Brigade...forgot I had them.

correction...

I updated the page above with other items I thought of.

I made a correction to the post about care packages and the stand alone care package page...the UNDER ARMOUR socks are large, not medium.

videos from last night.

a couple videos that I didn't have time to upload last night...

This video is horrible. I forgot my camera won't capture video in a 'portrait' format...but the audio of SSG Dudley is worth listening to. I only caught a couple seconds of it, as we were standing at attention.

I knew Obama liked to give "knucks," but I didn't realize he knew how to give the "bro hug double back tap" too.

reprieve from the smog.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet or not, but the smog here at Bagram is bad. When I was last here in 2004-2005, there wasn't a day I can remember visiting Bagram that I wasn't able to see the surrounding mountains, which are stunning. The reason? An increase from 3,000 residents to 30,000+ residents in such a small area (huge increase in vehicles and generators).

Yesterday's highwinds/storm cleared all smog out of the "Bagram Bowl." As a result, today was the clearest view we have had since arriving in mid-October (no pics to the East and South, pics of the flight line might get me in trouble).

Looking North toward the infamous Panjshir Valley, and the home of Afghan hero Masood who was assassinated on September 9th, 2001. The Russian air control tower (a Bagram landmark) from the Soviet War is to the left. As you can tell, it has since been dwarfed surrounding buildings.

Snow is beginning to accumulate on the mountains. In a few weeks, they will be covered with snow.

Panorama view to the West

A few hundred feet lower in elevation keeps the snow off these peaks to the West...for now.

president obama.

As most of you are probably aware by now, President Obama visited Bagram tonight. I can't even begin to explain just how much work is put into a Presidential visit to a war zone. A massive security effort has been underway most of this week, and will continue until he leaves here in the next couple of hours.

This blog post comes with a disclaimer...most everyone that reads this knows I didn't vote for President Obama, as I am by no means a fan of his policies. Honestly, I was not really thrilled about being ordered to go and listen to him speak this evening, and if given the choice I would have probably passed on the opportunity (for the record...I still maintain a deep respect for the Office, and will continue to keep my politics separate when it comes to following the orders & directives that come from our Commander in Chief).

All that said, I'm kinda glad I went. It is an awesome sight to see everything from this week come together to make it possible to have the Commander on the ground here, even if it is only for 5 hours. I had the opportunity to shake hands with the President tonight...he told me "thanks for your service and you sacrifice." He seemed very genuine during his speech and afterward when I met him. I don't think it was enough for him to win my vote, but it was reassuring to know that he is willing place himself into harms way to make a visit to the front lines. I took a few pics, enjoy.

Waiting in line to be screened in the middle of a small sandstorm. Tonight's high winds forced the president to cancel a trip to Kabul to meet with President Karzai..

SSG Dudley (Iowa National Guard) sang the national anthem...hands down the most incredible version I've ever heard in person. He made the Red Bulls look good tonight!

General Petraeus introducing the President.

President Obama. I had a front row seat.

The President shaking hands.

I ran into Jim McCord tonight. Jim's daughter (Erin) and Jessica were best friends growing up. Jim is currently working with the 101st AIRBORNE, advising them on Veterinary issues. Can you say "small world??"

my "foxhole"

Maybe this is what it'll take to convince some people that I have it awfully darn good here. And yes I know, pathetic attempt with Microsoft Paint to conceal the map behind me.

g's Christmas present.

I mentioned this previously...here's what the guys from "Droptine Lodge" got for Grant. Remember not to tell him yet! Thanks to Rass, Josh, Hogan, Porter and Joe.

more updates.

Obviously, I changed the title pic. Still can't figure out how to size it down...it's a little too big.

Made a care package 'page', so you don't have to scroll around looking for it later on.

I intend to begin updating the embedded pictures from photo bucket to the right. I've had slow internet since I mobilized last summer, so it's been hard to upload pics without the connection timing out on me. I'll keep working on it.

No change to the prayer list...I did apply for the new job I mentioned in the prayer requests. I'll let you know as things progress. There's an outside chance I could come home in a few weeks to interview...but there's still much that has to happen before that is even in the cards.

No change to the reading list either...I haven't read much since arriving over here...I'm still on the same book. What time I do have I spend in my bible, and preparing for the bible study that we're going to begin sometime in the near future.

family barn.

My brother (aka. the "tilt skillet") posted this video of the restoration of the family barn, which was finished this past summer. Dad and Denny (my Uncle) put in a lot of work into it. Nice work guys!

milk.

I don't use this blog to whine very much, but tonight I think I will. Milk is one of the things that we don't exactly have here, and it's one of those things you don't miss until it's unavailable. The photo above is what is available. It's shelf stable milk that is pasteurized at high temperatures...in Dubai.

There are all sorts of wrong with this. For example, my boss and I were in the chow hall tonight, and noticed that there is never a shortage of soda. Never. Most of the soda is imported from former Soviet Republics. But some of the sodas, like Dr. Pepper are flown in from the States.

Since when does Dr. Pepper take precedence over real milk? And does anyone believe for a second that there are any cows in Dubai?? I don't think I want to know the original source of the milk...? If you know the answer to that question, please don't tell me.