Saturday, February 26, 2011
slow internet
For some reason, the internet here is really slow the past week. Working on getting it fixed so I can update soon.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
GAMBERI 4
This is the video I took of the flight from Bagram to Gamberi, and back. It's long, 14mins 55secs. I didn't take the time to add captions, etc. It's a compilation of raw video. I think it's a good representation of the terrain here, and how much it changes from one mile to the next. Here's some notes:
Beginning of video: Take off from Bagram.
3min, 50sec: Door gunners conducted a test fire.
4min, 10sec: Entering the Mehtar Lam Valley. From the air, it's very noticeable the effect that a river has on the landscape...life sustaining.
5min, 35sec: Landing at Gamberi.
6min, 10sec: FOB Gamberi
6min, 40sec: Pick-up at Gamberi.
10min, 0sec: Entering the Mountains in the vicinity of Koi Safi District, Parwan Province.
10min, 55sec: Flying "Nap of the Earth" through a Valley in the Koi Safi Mountains. LTC Keeley was filming for a few seconds here...also a sighting of a Captain with a really cheesy smile.
11min,18sec: If you look close, you can see some of the caves in the side of the Valley. This is why it's so difficult to find and fight the enemy here.
11min, 30sec: Banking hard to the left in the Valley.
11min, 50sec: Banking hard to the right in the Valley.
12min, 20sec: Exiting the Valley.
12min, 50sec: Final Approach to Bagram.
Last note on the Gamberi trip. FOB Gamberi is roughly 8 miles away from the City of Jalalabad. This happened in Jalalabad while we were in Gamberi on Saturday. Just another reminder of how far Afghanistan has to go before it can consider itself even remotely secure.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
GAMBERI 3
Pictured with me below is Command Sergeant Major David Enright. CSM Enright was in our Plans section previously on this deployment. He was reassigned to GAMBERI when we (TF RED BULLS) received a requirement to mentor a Sergeant Major of the Afghan National Army (ANA).
As part of the counter insurgency (COIN) effort over here, we allow Afghan vendors to open small stores on our FOBs. CSM Enright has taken one store owner under his wing from FOB GAMBERI.
He has advised the store owner on what products to sell ("Soldiers like knives and lighters" he told him), and how to sell them. Since taking his advice, the store owner's sales have increased substantially, and he is on his way to paying off the loan that made it possible to open the store.
CSM Enright was insistent on buying me a gold Rolex yesterday (he owed me some money from NTC, and hadn't had the chance to pay it back due to his quick reassignment). However, now that I think about it, I think he was more interested in helping the store owner than in paying me back!
Pictured above is my new $25.00 gold Rolex. (yes, it's a fake)
As part of the counter insurgency (COIN) effort over here, we allow Afghan vendors to open small stores on our FOBs. CSM Enright has taken one store owner under his wing from FOB GAMBERI.He has advised the store owner on what products to sell ("Soldiers like knives and lighters" he told him), and how to sell them. Since taking his advice, the store owner's sales have increased substantially, and he is on his way to paying off the loan that made it possible to open the store.
CSM Enright was insistent on buying me a gold Rolex yesterday (he owed me some money from NTC, and hadn't had the chance to pay it back due to his quick reassignment). However, now that I think about it, I think he was more interested in helping the store owner than in paying me back!
Pictured above is my new $25.00 gold Rolex. (yes, it's a fake)
GAMBERI 2
Officially, FOB GAMBERI is an ANA base. The members of the US ARMY whom are stationed there are mainly in an advise and assist role.
Below is a formation of ANA Soldiers who had just arrived from basic training. It won't take them long to see combat.
Me wearing the ANA patches I bought at the ANA "canteen."
I added this photo because of the building under construction to the right (with the blue tarp). The TF RED BULLS soldiers stationed at FOB GAMBERI began construction on this building, eventually it will be their gym. The Soldier leading the effort to build this is from Winterset...and I cant remember his name for the life of me right now. I suck.
Waiting in line at the ANA canteen.
Still waiting...
A few months ago, this group of ANA soldiers went through an intense ambush...45 ANA Soldiers were killed. This pile of vehicles is part of the aftermath.
Planning future operations...I can't even begin to explain how much patience it takes to work with the ANA...
Below is a formation of ANA Soldiers who had just arrived from basic training. It won't take them long to see combat.
Me wearing the ANA patches I bought at the ANA "canteen."
I added this photo because of the building under construction to the right (with the blue tarp). The TF RED BULLS soldiers stationed at FOB GAMBERI began construction on this building, eventually it will be their gym. The Soldier leading the effort to build this is from Winterset...and I cant remember his name for the life of me right now. I suck.
Waiting in line at the ANA canteen.
Still waiting...
A few months ago, this group of ANA soldiers went through an intense ambush...45 ANA Soldiers were killed. This pile of vehicles is part of the aftermath.
Planning future operations...I can't even begin to explain how much patience it takes to work with the ANA...
GAMBERI 1
Part of our Brigade staff traveled to FOB GAMBERI in Laghman Province today to conduct joint planning with our Afghan National Army (ANA) counterparts. The trip went well. I took many pictures, and a ton of video (hopefully I'm able to upload it).
Not sure why I look so tired in this picture??
The terrain in Afghanistan is awesome...no wonder conquering Armies have been unable to secure this place for centuries.
MAJ Dave Broomhall and I enjoying the ride through the mountains.
A typical Afghan village, tucked away in the side of a mountain. To the left, the door gunner keeps watch on the mountain ridges and peaks.
Again, the landscape is incredible.
Breathtaking.
Not sure why I look so tired in this picture??
The terrain in Afghanistan is awesome...no wonder conquering Armies have been unable to secure this place for centuries.
MAJ Dave Broomhall and I enjoying the ride through the mountains.
A typical Afghan village, tucked away in the side of a mountain. To the left, the door gunner keeps watch on the mountain ridges and peaks.
Again, the landscape is incredible.
Breathtaking.Tuesday, February 15, 2011
KGB
*I updated this post. I did the math wrong...an average of 50 hits a day for 200 days is 10,000ish hits, not 50,000.
I was noticing the gadget titled "hits" that I placed on the blog when I first set this up (scroll down to the lower right of this blog). This counter and others have proved to be fairly inaccurate, as they are reset from time to time and not all areas will register. For instance, there are several people in Afghanistan that read this blog, and none of their hits are registering. Also, it shows only 1,800 hits from the United States, and I know the number from the U.S. is more in the 10,000 range.
What I found interesting is that 2 hits from outside the United States are registering...Qatar (which was my own log-ins while at al Udeid), and Siberia? I set this blog up so it will not register in Google and other search engines. I also disabled the random "take me to the next blog" icon on blogger...So I'm not quite sure how someone stumbled across this.
Now I'm paranoid...as the title to this post suggests.
I was noticing the gadget titled "hits" that I placed on the blog when I first set this up (scroll down to the lower right of this blog). This counter and others have proved to be fairly inaccurate, as they are reset from time to time and not all areas will register. For instance, there are several people in Afghanistan that read this blog, and none of their hits are registering. Also, it shows only 1,800 hits from the United States, and I know the number from the U.S. is more in the 10,000 range.
What I found interesting is that 2 hits from outside the United States are registering...Qatar (which was my own log-ins while at al Udeid), and Siberia? I set this blog up so it will not register in Google and other search engines. I also disabled the random "take me to the next blog" icon on blogger...So I'm not quite sure how someone stumbled across this.
Now I'm paranoid...as the title to this post suggests.
Monday, February 14, 2011
pictures from today
The snow continues to melt...causing some minor flooding
In-between the barracks
The sun beginning to set on the mountainsbrainwashed.
Through the years, one of the things I've realized about the military is how good they are at brainwashing me, even when I'm watching for it. It all starts in basic training...
For example, wake-up (in basic training) is at 0330hrs (3:30a.m.) throughout the 9 weeks you're there. Later, when you arrive at your permanent unit following training, first formation is held at 0630hrs (6:30a.m.). This is how they trick you into believing that you have finally arrived...as you believe you are now sleeping in.
Never mind the fact that prior to basic training you considered 9:30a.m. early. They do it to you slowly...just like the cold-blooded frog that is slowly boiled to death in science class. Only after time do you realize when they have struck again.
Well, I realized just recently they have struck again with this mobilization...here's how. I've caught myself numerous times recently saying how this is only a 12 month mobilization. Not so bad considering the last one was 16 months, right?! Darn it, they got me again! Only 12 months...I'm brainwashed.
This got me to thinking about how much time I've spent in recent years doing Army stuff...it really is something when you take the time to write it all down. I decided to figure out how much I've been gone for Army stuff, beginning in 2003 (the year Jess and I got married) to July 2011 (Projected end of this mobilization).
Following the years listed below is the number of full months I recall being gone...not including business trips, conferences, drill weekends, etc.
2003: 4 (Infantry Basic Course)
2004: 11 (Glenwood, IA/Texas/Afghanistan)
2005: 5 (Afghanistan)
2006: 0
2007: 1 (Minnesota, Annual Training)
2008: 1 (Flood Duty & Annual Training)
2009: 1.5 (Presidential Inauguration, Infantry Advanced Course, Minnesota, Annual Training)
2010: 6 (Minnesota, Annual Training/Mississippi/California/Afghanistan)
2011: 7 (Afghanistan estimate)
So, the way I figure it...rounding down, this July I will have been gone for 36 of 103 months...35% of the time.
Wow...and the toughest end of this is at home. Thanks for all you do while I'm away Jess. None of it would have been possible without you. You are a patriot, and the most supportive wife I could ask for. I am blessed. Happy Valentine's Day. I Love you.
(No Jess, I wont detail how many Valentine's Days, Anniversaries, Birthday's etc. I've missed through the years).
For example, wake-up (in basic training) is at 0330hrs (3:30a.m.) throughout the 9 weeks you're there. Later, when you arrive at your permanent unit following training, first formation is held at 0630hrs (6:30a.m.). This is how they trick you into believing that you have finally arrived...as you believe you are now sleeping in.
Never mind the fact that prior to basic training you considered 9:30a.m. early. They do it to you slowly...just like the cold-blooded frog that is slowly boiled to death in science class. Only after time do you realize when they have struck again.
Well, I realized just recently they have struck again with this mobilization...here's how. I've caught myself numerous times recently saying how this is only a 12 month mobilization. Not so bad considering the last one was 16 months, right?! Darn it, they got me again! Only 12 months...I'm brainwashed.
This got me to thinking about how much time I've spent in recent years doing Army stuff...it really is something when you take the time to write it all down. I decided to figure out how much I've been gone for Army stuff, beginning in 2003 (the year Jess and I got married) to July 2011 (Projected end of this mobilization).
Following the years listed below is the number of full months I recall being gone...not including business trips, conferences, drill weekends, etc.
2003: 4 (Infantry Basic Course)
2004: 11 (Glenwood, IA/Texas/Afghanistan)
2005: 5 (Afghanistan)
2006: 0
2007: 1 (Minnesota, Annual Training)
2008: 1 (Flood Duty & Annual Training)
2009: 1.5 (Presidential Inauguration, Infantry Advanced Course, Minnesota, Annual Training)
2010: 6 (Minnesota, Annual Training/Mississippi/California/Afghanistan)
2011: 7 (Afghanistan estimate)
So, the way I figure it...rounding down, this July I will have been gone for 36 of 103 months...35% of the time.
Wow...and the toughest end of this is at home. Thanks for all you do while I'm away Jess. None of it would have been possible without you. You are a patriot, and the most supportive wife I could ask for. I am blessed. Happy Valentine's Day. I Love you.
(No Jess, I wont detail how many Valentine's Days, Anniversaries, Birthday's etc. I've missed through the years).
Sunday, February 13, 2011
snow
It snowed here for the past 3 days, and it's a mess. There is flooding everywhere as the snow is quickly melting...thankfully our living quarters and work area are dry.
The motorpool as the snow began..
Outside my room tonight
The motorpool as the snow began..
Outside my room tonight
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Salerno 2
While waiting to fly from Salerno to Bagram, I took some pictures around the FOB. I was surprised at how little Salerno has changed in the last 6 years. It remains a muddy mess with the view of a mountain chalet.
The hospital we stayed in. Ironically, this is the same hospital that I had surgery in 6 years ago following an incident on the range.
Jingle Tractor
For my family in West Virginia...looks like there are some W.V. National Guard folks stationed in Salerno.
The hospital we stayed in. Ironically, this is the same hospital that I had surgery in 6 years ago following an incident on the range.
Jingle Tractor
For my family in West Virginia...looks like there are some W.V. National Guard folks stationed in Salerno.
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