WTP Day -3

I finally made it to Kuwait. I spent two nights in Bagram. I arrived there on the 26th. There was nothing for me to do so I mostly read that day. The LEPs I worked with hooked me up and let me stay in their bhut so I didn't have to stay in the 400-person transient tents. On the 27th at 1500 I had an appointment at NAVCENTFWD where they out-processed us. That only took about an hour. Then we were free until 1500 next next day while we got our flight assignment. Showtime was that night, the 28th, around 8pm.

The flight consisted of 13 IA's like me and 110 Navy (mostly enlisted) from a guard unit. So everything was slow such lining up or sorting bags. It was freezing in Bagram so I spent my last hour there freezing outside in formation on the runway while that Navy unit squared their luggage away. I hate Bagram and this trip was no exception. The primary reasons are terrible restroom facilities, crappy billeting, constant noise, and this time it was freezing cold.

We arrived in Ali-al-Salim around 0500 Kuwait time and left for Afirjon around 0700. It took a long time for that Navy unit to sort their bags into the truck or we would have left earlier. We arrived at Arifjon about 0900, sorted bags for another hour, then met in the admin tent for weapons turn-in and a quick brief. That was great that they collected our weapons immediately. They said to come back at 0830 tomorrow to clean them.

The first thing I did was take a shower, then I went to the DFAC to get chow. The restrooms here are clean and the tents are smaller and only half full. The DFAC is good. The Navy policy is that we can dress in civilian clothes if we want but I only brought one pair so I'm staying in uniform. After chow I went by Starbucks then back to my tent. Was going to read but I passed out fast.

Other than cleaning our weapons tomorrow morning I think there's nothing scheduled until WTP officially starts on 1 Jan. I should arrive in Gulfport late on 4 Jan. I suppose I'll spend the next couple of days reading and playing on my laptop.

Leaving Soon

I finally got my Letter of Release yesterday. So I'm authorized to leave Eggers on the next available transport. From here I'll go to Bagram to checkout and then I'll fly to Kuwait for my Warrior Transition Program class that starts on 1 Jan. I hope I'm not stuck in Bagram for long. That place sucks.

I'm spending Christmas packing my bags.

Goodbye Afghans

I took my last trip to MOI today. I bought lunch for the afghan cops that were there and the U.S. team I work with. It was bit sad that the main afghan I advise wasn't able to be there. His eight-year-old niece was killed a few days ago by a car. She was walking across the street and was hit by a small truck. Afghans drive pretty crazy for sure. There are no traffic laws that are regularly obeyed. No such thing as a moving violation or traffic ticket. They don't bother us because we drive armored SUVs. I've had several afghan cars bounce off my SUV over my year driving here but I don't even bother to stop. The other problem of course is that kids are all over the streets. This society hasn't yet adjusted to the having fast-moving vehicles. She was the only girl in his brother's family and her mom is very ill. It's an all-around tragedy.

My team gave me a going-away gift today. A nice plaque to hang on my wall.



The inscription at the bottom says: "It is well that war is so terrible, or we should get too fond of it."

It's finally starting to feel like I'll be going home soon. I wonder how much I'll remember of this place. I have mixed feelings about begin here but I've certainly made many afghan friends.

Farewell to Me

Tonight was our monthly hail and farewell. And it was my turn! I actually missed 90% of the ceremony because I unexpectedly got pulled into a meeting, along with my Director, with the Chief of Staff (CoS) for LTG Caldwell. The same guy I'm waiting on to sign my Letter of Release. I didn't bring that up tonight though. He would even think its funny if I don't have the general's brief finished. My boss has been out of town for the last few days so I've been up late working on briefings. I briefed MG Beare and BG Smith yesterday and I had a briefing due to my Director (an SES) two nights ago. Although I've been in powerpoint hell, I don't mind because the generals seem genuinely interested it learning about this stuff so I'm doing the best I can to simplify it.

Anyway, back to my farewell, they awarded me a Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM), an Afghan Campaign Medal and a NATO service medal. The last two are automatic and the DMSM is the highest medal a Navy LT can get without participating in combat. It's not a rare medal, but its not guaranteed. If you do your job out here and don't complain, you'll get a DMSM.

Nothing much new to report around Eggers. They are digging a big hole to put sewage in. This used to be a nice rose garden. Now is a really big hole:



I think I'm in my last two weeks here. Nothing is certain though until the LOR is signed.

Iranian Food

Tastes pretty much like Afghan food. It looks like I'm still on track to leave sometime after Christmas. Since many of the cops I work with are leaving next week to be home for Christmas, they had a going away dinner for me tonight at an Iranian restaurant in the green zone. The food was good. I'm tired of the DFAC food and always try to eat native when an opportunity arises.



I haven't worked much with the cops lately. That program has slowed down a lot for various reasons. However, they are a great group of guys and they've definitely made this experience more meaningful.