The other day I was listenting to a conversation with the Medical Embeded Training Team (ETT), and I said "Huh?"
They were discussing a class they were conducting for the Afghans, topic: Hand Washing... Come to find out not only are they teaching them why it is important to wash your hands as a form of disease prevention, but also HOW to wash their hands! And I'm not talking about the proper vs. the improper way to wash your mits, but how to pick up a bar of soap and put it under some running water. It sounded to me like they were teaching todlers how to wash up before dinner. How many grown-ups do I know that don't know how to wash their hands? That's right, zero!
I said to myself, "Wow, I'm glad I don't have to deal with this stuff."
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Helicopters and timid Italians
It's been about two weeks since my last post, so I figured I should write at least something.
Yesterday, I flew by helicopter down to Shindand for a site survey. I, more or less, was just along for the ride. My new boss needed to go there to figure out where the Italians wanted to build their new expansion on the Shindand FOB. We needed to know this because wherever their expansion ends, we will begin the U.S. expansion there. We just couldn't pin them down. There was an Italian Colonel with us who just couldn't make a decision. If it were a U.S. Army Colonel with the authority, it would have been decided months ago. Something about getting approval from their government. Absolutely ridiculous! There is plenty of land and the coalition forces own the ground. Just decide!
Helicopters. I've always enjoyed riding in a helicopter. This one was new because I've ridden in all of the U.S. Army's cargo helicopters, even the obsolete Huey when it was still in service. However, this one was a Spanish Cougar. Pretty smooth ride. Other than the take of and landing it's about the same as riding in a really noisy car. The different perspective of the landscape is what is interesting. It was great because the aircraft had two door gunners so the crew had to fly with the doors open. Some great terrain and views. Unfortunately, my camera battery was dead, so no pictures.
Take offs are really neat because a pilot will typically do a slow take off. What this does is cause the helicopter to shake and vibrate as it is trying to take off, but it hasn't created enough lift. Once it does, however, it shoots straight up in the air and you're off!
The return trip was really great because we were flying though and over some mountains to the south of Herat. You don't realize how high you are or the magnitude of the terrain until you see another helicopter in the lift off in the distance. It puts some perspective on what you are seeing.
Yesterday, I flew by helicopter down to Shindand for a site survey. I, more or less, was just along for the ride. My new boss needed to go there to figure out where the Italians wanted to build their new expansion on the Shindand FOB. We needed to know this because wherever their expansion ends, we will begin the U.S. expansion there. We just couldn't pin them down. There was an Italian Colonel with us who just couldn't make a decision. If it were a U.S. Army Colonel with the authority, it would have been decided months ago. Something about getting approval from their government. Absolutely ridiculous! There is plenty of land and the coalition forces own the ground. Just decide!
Helicopters. I've always enjoyed riding in a helicopter. This one was new because I've ridden in all of the U.S. Army's cargo helicopters, even the obsolete Huey when it was still in service. However, this one was a Spanish Cougar. Pretty smooth ride. Other than the take of and landing it's about the same as riding in a really noisy car. The different perspective of the landscape is what is interesting. It was great because the aircraft had two door gunners so the crew had to fly with the doors open. Some great terrain and views. Unfortunately, my camera battery was dead, so no pictures.
Take offs are really neat because a pilot will typically do a slow take off. What this does is cause the helicopter to shake and vibrate as it is trying to take off, but it hasn't created enough lift. Once it does, however, it shoots straight up in the air and you're off!
The return trip was really great because we were flying though and over some mountains to the south of Herat. You don't realize how high you are or the magnitude of the terrain until you see another helicopter in the lift off in the distance. It puts some perspective on what you are seeing.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Promotion
On Saturday, April 4 I was promoted to Major. It's about time! I was supposed to get promoted almost one year ago, but because of some silly regulations I could not get promoted. First it was because I had not been in the National Guard for one year. Next it was because I was deployed, Finally, it was because I was not in a job that required a Major. Well, I guess cooler heads prevailed and my information was sent to the National Guard Bureau. Several Lieutenant Colonels who felt I deserved to be promoted kept calling around within Illinois State HQ and National Guard Bureau, generally being nuisances and helped to make it happen. So thanks to them.
The promotion itself was good. I was able to have my deployment team leader, one of the Lieutenant Colonels who worked for my promotion, and my friend pin on my new rank.
Being a Major is a little strange because now I am what is called a Field Grade Officer as opposed to a Company Grade Officer which are Lieutenant through Captain. People treat me a little different, and I can do some things I couldn't before. I would say that generally I like being a Major much more than I liked being a Captain. Another benefit is that I don't have to call my own West Point classmates or other guys I served with who did not get out "Sir" or "Ma'am." I've ran into several of them, and it was just awkward. I'm still in command, which is a Captains job. I'm trying to move to a job that is more interesting and more suitable. This is my third command (most people only get one), and I'm getting tired of it.
The promotion itself was good. I was able to have my deployment team leader, one of the Lieutenant Colonels who worked for my promotion, and my friend pin on my new rank.
Being a Major is a little strange because now I am what is called a Field Grade Officer as opposed to a Company Grade Officer which are Lieutenant through Captain. People treat me a little different, and I can do some things I couldn't before. I would say that generally I like being a Major much more than I liked being a Captain. Another benefit is that I don't have to call my own West Point classmates or other guys I served with who did not get out "Sir" or "Ma'am." I've ran into several of them, and it was just awkward. I'm still in command, which is a Captains job. I'm trying to move to a job that is more interesting and more suitable. This is my third command (most people only get one), and I'm getting tired of it.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Birthdays
Yesterday it was my 39th birthday. Just another day. It was yet another in a place where birthdays are not normally celebrated. Some examples: 19 was in the field on a sunny day as a cannon crew member loading 100lb projectiles into a 155mm howitzer. 26 was at Ranger School on an extremely cold day in the mountains of Georgia hoping for an MRE chocolate chip poundcake from my ranger buddy's MRE. He had promissed it to me as a birthday cake and later renigged on the bargain. Dissapointing. 30 was spent on a C130 aircraft travelling to Kosovo via Macedonia to begin my first deployment. 31 was in the field in Hohenfels, Germany; one of the most miserable places I've ever been. Now, 39 in the glorious nation of Afghanistan.
Well, I guess I should be thankful that I know when my birthday is. I often work with the local branch manager of the Bank of Afganistan, and he brought his ATM technician in for an ID card. The technician neglected to fill out his birthday on the form. When I told him that he had to fill out his birthday, he gave me a look as if I had 50 heads. Omar, the branch manager, then told me that the tech did not know his birthday, or what his age was! I couldn't believe it. Maybe, we should all be thankful no matter how we feel about birthdays.
Well, I guess I should be thankful that I know when my birthday is. I often work with the local branch manager of the Bank of Afganistan, and he brought his ATM technician in for an ID card. The technician neglected to fill out his birthday on the form. When I told him that he had to fill out his birthday, he gave me a look as if I had 50 heads. Omar, the branch manager, then told me that the tech did not know his birthday, or what his age was! I couldn't believe it. Maybe, we should all be thankful no matter how we feel about birthdays.
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