Alright! I knocked out the 2d hardest part of a deployment. The first few days suck for all the obvious reasons; jet-lag, new environment, new people, policies and procedures, etc, etc. Same as it sucks to be any place new you don't really want to be. Oh, if this is the 2d worst what is the worst? In my opinion it is the last few days. You rarely know exactly what day you're leaving. When that day comes you might get stuck, aircraft break, weather, and all the other bullshit that can occur. So there you sit all done, nothing to do but get home and your stuck. That to me is the suckiest.
Life here has gotten quite a bit more eventful. There is a lot to do. My day is pretty full, but I
rarely feel like I have gotten anything done. My mission here is basically a staff officer. Briefings, slides, research, policy, problem solving. We are doing non-doctrinal stuff because it deals exclusively with coalition partners (foriegn countries like Australia, Georgia, etc.) That part is cool, but the staff work sucks. Don't get me wrong, I have clear indicators that we do accomplish the mission, it's just I am on the planning and resourcing end of it and I would really rather be on the execution end. These are a few pics of us getting soldiers from the nation of Tonga some equipment. These were cool guys and this is the part of the job I like, but I rarely will be "doing". Mostly I plan this event and then check to make sure it goes OK.
We work a pretty good schedule. I can't complain, the "boys" at my last unit were so good at what they did I got a fair amount of time off. I am paying for it now. I am getting up at 0530 and going to work by 0630. I leave for lunch about 1200 and usually take about 45 min (it's a 5 min walk to eat). I get back and work until about 1900 (7 p.m.), except for Thursday. Thursday Mass is at 1800 so I get out early and go because I have to work Sunday. This schedule is fairly the same Mon-Sat. Sunday I come in a little later and leave a little earlier.
I need to start doing some PT. I am going to try and hit the gym/run at lunch. We'll see how that works out. It's tuff to want to do anything but work, sleep, and eat. I think as my body continues to adjust to the heat and tempo I'll get better. The heat should start to break here in a few weeks. I really think that once we get down into the 90's during the day I'll be a lot better. We are still hitting 115-120 during the day. It gets down into the 80's at night and that actually is a bit chilly in the morning! Imagine that, 85 being chilly.
Life here has gotten quite a bit more eventful. There is a lot to do. My day is pretty full, but I
rarely feel like I have gotten anything done. My mission here is basically a staff officer. Briefings, slides, research, policy, problem solving. We are doing non-doctrinal stuff because it deals exclusively with coalition partners (foriegn countries like Australia, Georgia, etc.) That part is cool, but the staff work sucks. Don't get me wrong, I have clear indicators that we do accomplish the mission, it's just I am on the planning and resourcing end of it and I would really rather be on the execution end. These are a few pics of us getting soldiers from the nation of Tonga some equipment. These were cool guys and this is the part of the job I like, but I rarely will be "doing". Mostly I plan this event and then check to make sure it goes OK.We work a pretty good schedule. I can't complain, the "boys" at my last unit were so good at what they did I got a fair amount of time off. I am paying for it now. I am getting up at 0530 and going to work by 0630. I leave for lunch about 1200 and usually take about 45 min (it's a 5 min walk to eat). I get back and work until about 1900 (7 p.m.), except for Thursday. Thursday Mass is at 1800 so I get out early and go because I have to work Sunday. This schedule is fairly the same Mon-Sat. Sunday I come in a little later and leave a little earlier.
I need to start doing some PT. I am going to try and hit the gym/run at lunch. We'll see how that works out. It's tuff to want to do anything but work, sleep, and eat. I think as my body continues to adjust to the heat and tempo I'll get better. The heat should start to break here in a few weeks. I really think that once we get down into the 90's during the day I'll be a lot better. We are still hitting 115-120 during the day. It gets down into the 80's at night and that actually is a bit chilly in the morning! Imagine that, 85 being chilly.
Still living in the tent. That too is not as bad as it could be. There is only 4 of us left in tent that sleeps 14, but was set up for only 7, so we have lots of room. When I move I'll be going to a room that is 8x10, WITH a roommate! Yep that's right, Soldiers, Sergeants, and Commissioned Officers of the most powerful nation on earth living in a space smaller than what many convicts live in. Yeah, I am pissed. But heah you can only do so much with a couple Billion per year to fight a war with right? Aw anyhow, we have a pool here. I haven't seen it, but it exists. What the hell do we need a pool for? Good question. All things for you to ponder until my next post!
