Just wanted to a quick thanks to two outstanding organizations: Outback Steakhouse and Carrabas Italian Grill. Both restaurants decided to support the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan by shipping all kinds of food to both countries and cooking it too. I just chowed down on some strip steak, pasta, vegetable ravioli, calamari, bloomin onion, and some cheesecake. I think all the weight I've lost so far just got put back on in the last 45 minutes. It was a great meal even though the steak was cooked until it was charcoal. But, seeming as I'm in Afghanistan and getting such a great meal, I can't complain.
Mom sent me great care package today. Cashews, twizzlers, granola bars, beef jerky, and jolly ranchers. Always a good combination. The only thing that could've made it better would be some cherry/white chocolate/machadamia nut cookies. Christmas is just around the corner though so I'm sure those will be in works soon.
In other news, I've been taking advantage of the sweet deployment pay and have paid off my student loans and my TV I bought during the summer. It's about the only thing I enjoy about deploying is paying off all my bills. Hopefully now I can focus on my house payments and cut a couple years and a couple thousand dollars in interest out of the tail end of it.
Time to go let my food digest. Later.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Veteran's Day
So this post is a day late, but it's still appropriate. November 11th is Veteran's Day. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the day off as much as everybody else, but I think it's often forgotten what the holiday is for.
Veteran's Day was originally called Armistice Day until World War II ended. It was then changed to what is currently called Veteran's Day. I have people all the time thanking me for my service to the country and thanking me for what I do for the country. A man approached me at Starbucks a couple months ago when I was on my way to work so I was in uniform. He came up to me, thanked me for my service, and then went on tell me how his family had served in WWII. I had to confess to him that it's the Americans that served in WWI and WWII that are the real heroes. They served, some of them, for four straight years in either the Pacific, European, or African theaters. They are the one's that destroyed an 'empire' that was literally seeking to take over the world and create a master race. And for that, I have to say a very special thank you to all the veterans of World Wars I and II. (I mixed the two wars together a little bit, but you get the point)
For the current conflicts, it's the Soliders, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines getting shot at everyday who really deserve this attention. Everybody who deploys is missing 6-12 months with their family, wife, husband, pets, house. tv, and almost everything else they care about. But I'm only here to support the people who are taking it to the enemy on a daily basis. I make sure they have, without asking, everything they need to engage and destroy the enemies of the United States of America. But they are in danger's way almost everyday. And for that, a very special thank you to the men and women at the tip of the spear today in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I was sitting in the dining facility a couple days ago and me and two of my fellow officers were complaining about doing PowerPoints and Excel spreadsheets all day everyday. I looked at the Marines sitting across from me and made a mention to my friends about how big of dummies they must think we are for complaining about it. I intentionally said it loud enough for them to hear. They just kinda shook their heads at the comment. Come to find out, that all three are dog handlers and the only reason they're on Camp Leatherneck instead of looking for drugs and explosives is because one of them was hurt, one of their dogs was involved in an explosion and got slightly injured, and the third was their squad leader. I talked them a little longer and as we were leaving thanked them all for their service. That is what Veteran's Day is all about.
Later.
Veteran's Day was originally called Armistice Day until World War II ended. It was then changed to what is currently called Veteran's Day. I have people all the time thanking me for my service to the country and thanking me for what I do for the country. A man approached me at Starbucks a couple months ago when I was on my way to work so I was in uniform. He came up to me, thanked me for my service, and then went on tell me how his family had served in WWII. I had to confess to him that it's the Americans that served in WWI and WWII that are the real heroes. They served, some of them, for four straight years in either the Pacific, European, or African theaters. They are the one's that destroyed an 'empire' that was literally seeking to take over the world and create a master race. And for that, I have to say a very special thank you to all the veterans of World Wars I and II. (I mixed the two wars together a little bit, but you get the point)
For the current conflicts, it's the Soliders, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines getting shot at everyday who really deserve this attention. Everybody who deploys is missing 6-12 months with their family, wife, husband, pets, house. tv, and almost everything else they care about. But I'm only here to support the people who are taking it to the enemy on a daily basis. I make sure they have, without asking, everything they need to engage and destroy the enemies of the United States of America. But they are in danger's way almost everyday. And for that, a very special thank you to the men and women at the tip of the spear today in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I was sitting in the dining facility a couple days ago and me and two of my fellow officers were complaining about doing PowerPoints and Excel spreadsheets all day everyday. I looked at the Marines sitting across from me and made a mention to my friends about how big of dummies they must think we are for complaining about it. I intentionally said it loud enough for them to hear. They just kinda shook their heads at the comment. Come to find out, that all three are dog handlers and the only reason they're on Camp Leatherneck instead of looking for drugs and explosives is because one of them was hurt, one of their dogs was involved in an explosion and got slightly injured, and the third was their squad leader. I talked them a little longer and as we were leaving thanked them all for their service. That is what Veteran's Day is all about.
Later.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Taking Over
So last week we official took over all the responsibilities for Army logistics in SW Afghanistan. It's a pretty monumental task. Luckily, we have a really good team of officers, non-commissioned officers, and Soldiers on staff. All the senior leaders have an extraordinary amount of knowledge that I try to tap daily to make my self a better Soldier, transporter, and leader.
My section is probably the most heavily tasked section because we are the planners of all the convoys the companies conduct. It doesn't help that we are an exception to the rule and really have 2 or 3 higher commands as opposed to the usual one in a normal command structure. Plus the customers and requirements are so diverse that it really keeps you on your toes and trying to plan two-four weeks out. So far we've been doing alright, and there's been rough spots but I think that's natural. It doesn't help that the unit you are replacing wants to leave as soon as possible, and you as the new team don't really want to be there.
Speaking of diverse customers, I've been dealing with many civilian organizations out here and many foreign militaries. I've worked with the UK a couple times and whenever I call them, they have to repeat almost everything twice so I can make sure I'm catching everything. The English are pretty easy, but the Scottish are a challenge.
Not a lot to do in my off time. Usually I wake up at 0530 to do PT, get to work about 0900, and then work till 2000ish. So by the time I get home, I'm beat and fall right asleep. Today is probably the earliest I left since I've been here and that wasn't until 1900. The USO made a very generous donation of about 15 computers and 6 phones that can call back to the States for free. It's usually the place to be when you have some free time. Otherwise, you have better brought some movies on your computer or some books cause you're going to be real bored sitting in your room during all your free time (if you get some).
Oh yeah! Outback Steakhouse is flying out here to cook some "morale meals" all around Afghanistan. Very much looking forward to this. We also have the Thanksgiving meal coming up and usually the DFACs throw down quite a spread for it.
If you got anything specific you want me to blog about, let me know. And I'm still looking for my camera cord. I'm working alternate ways to get some pictures on here if I didn't bring it.
That's it for now. Later.
My section is probably the most heavily tasked section because we are the planners of all the convoys the companies conduct. It doesn't help that we are an exception to the rule and really have 2 or 3 higher commands as opposed to the usual one in a normal command structure. Plus the customers and requirements are so diverse that it really keeps you on your toes and trying to plan two-four weeks out. So far we've been doing alright, and there's been rough spots but I think that's natural. It doesn't help that the unit you are replacing wants to leave as soon as possible, and you as the new team don't really want to be there.
Speaking of diverse customers, I've been dealing with many civilian organizations out here and many foreign militaries. I've worked with the UK a couple times and whenever I call them, they have to repeat almost everything twice so I can make sure I'm catching everything. The English are pretty easy, but the Scottish are a challenge.
Not a lot to do in my off time. Usually I wake up at 0530 to do PT, get to work about 0900, and then work till 2000ish. So by the time I get home, I'm beat and fall right asleep. Today is probably the earliest I left since I've been here and that wasn't until 1900. The USO made a very generous donation of about 15 computers and 6 phones that can call back to the States for free. It's usually the place to be when you have some free time. Otherwise, you have better brought some movies on your computer or some books cause you're going to be real bored sitting in your room during all your free time (if you get some).
Oh yeah! Outback Steakhouse is flying out here to cook some "morale meals" all around Afghanistan. Very much looking forward to this. We also have the Thanksgiving meal coming up and usually the DFACs throw down quite a spread for it.
If you got anything specific you want me to blog about, let me know. And I'm still looking for my camera cord. I'm working alternate ways to get some pictures on here if I didn't bring it.
That's it for now. Later.
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