sobo

Is that a reference to watching my top knot? Or am I missing something obvious...??

Thanks, Dan. I have no plans to become a hero... or a statistic.

This is true. quit moving in on my territory OW! i have a date with him too. No reason we couldn't make it a threesome. At first I was worried about stirring up a jealous catfight. But upon OW's reply, I find myself curiously aroused by the implication...

This is true.

Nope, first time in a war zone. Excited, yes. Nervous, yes. Still gonna go? Yes. Man, what gruntpltleader said. I gotta say I am definitely not a fan of contractors in war zones or the military outsourcing this way, but it is what it is and sounds like you're headed out. I'd say it's one thing if you can do your job without leaving the base in Kandahar, it's another if you're going to be traveling all over W. Afghanistan to all these various bases. If the latter, you'll want to get as assertive as possible about what form of travel you are talking about - humvee vs MRAPs, super stallions or blackhawks vs old chinooks or other claptrap. Just try to get whatever control you can over when you travel, in what, and with whom. I'd personally take my chances in the air to stay off the roads. And what's happening on the personal armor front? Do you know exactly what you'll be supplied with? I'd really recommend getting a hold of a couple of the guys here like serenity and AK offline who know what the fuck they are talking about and try to separate what you're being told by your company and what you're likely to encounter. Again, please get real assertive and clear about taking care of yourself - we definitely want you back home safe and sound, preferably sooner than later. Joe- My job will require me to travel about southern and western AFG a fair bit, like prolly 50% of the time while in country. Travel is primarily by helicopter, chiefly Blackhawks. Ground transport is extremely frowned upon. If there's no other way to get me to a site by helo, then ground transport is undertaken, with me in Level 4 body armor and a Fritz inside an APC in the middle of a military convoy. I'll also be issued a CBRN mask as part of my MOPP. I've been advised to keep the Fritz and the BA handy at all times. I've already been PM-ing to GPL and akhalteke. GPL's responded; AK has not.

Great stuff!

Yep, in ivan's case particularly... he's just a mangy old cur!

DoxManDude!!! Haven't seen you in a coon's age! Howzit goin', man?

GPL, Thanks for Tips 1 and 2. I'll pass on Tip 3. I've been made well aware that certain elements of the indigenous population are out for any American scalps they can get. I'll be watching my top knot, to be sure. I'm not going there to become a statistic...

Nope, first time in a war zone. Excited, yes. Nervous, yes. Still gonna go? Yes.

Well, he didn't eat anyone...

Official title is Project Delivery Manager. A vertical move up from a project manager, which is my current job description. Same kind of work, just a lot more of it. I typically manage a half-dozen or so different projects and clients at a time. Now I'll be managing a couple dozen projects simultaneously for only one client - the US Army. Basically, I'll be responsible for ensuring that the final design and construction of all of the logistical support infrastructure for the troops in the western half of Afghanistan gets completed on time for the Army to move into the new encampments. This would be things like barracks, dining facilities, triage centers, water supply and treatment facilities, sewage treatment facilities, garbage incinerators, roads, airfields, helipads, etc. Like little cities, all over western Afghanistan... And you're probably right. The schedule says mid-2014, but the way things are going over there, what with wacko staff sergeants shooting up kids, other bozos burning sacred texts every other week, even more bozos pissin' on dead bodies and posting the vid on the YouTubez, and Hamid calling for us to get the f*** out early, I may not even be able to complete my first deployment. That would be a shame, cuz I'm really looking forward to this. Probably my biggest adventure yet... even bigger than my 4-month walkabout of the USA on my motorcycle when I was 20.

NICE! Thanks, Billy!

Matt, I expect that I'll be allowed to take some pics and tell the folks back home what's going on. We'll have internet and Skype in camp, although the bandwidth is not very large. I was just funnin' with Jim up there. I won't really have to kill anyone... I hope.

OK, I'll try to answer everyone in just one post... Joe- If I like it/suits me, I'll do two tours. Every one of my co-workers there is on their 2nd or 3rd deployment. One's on his 4th! ivan- No worries... the spice must flow... minx- Initial deployment is for 13 months. No climbering on the SF this season... CF- "Watch yer top knot!" dougd- Yes, yes I did... Jim- Work. I'll be directing/leading a group of folks that could best be described as the civilian version of combat engineers. Telling you any more than that... yes, I'd hafta kill ya... Billy- Thanks, man! I'll be fitted for a gas mask, flak vest, and a Fritz. The beard will have to go, I'm afraid... oly- Subcontracted to a PMC. Doug- Thanks, man. Sure will. LOA papers have been turned in to CWMR. I'll miss all of the reaccreditation nonsense...

Bugga...

WTF, Eric??? You don't live in Cascadia anymore???

It's official, and you heard it here first (not posted on FB yet) - 9 days and a wake-up! Wheels up March 25... Now, if peeps over there would just quit shootin' up kids & burning sacred texts, things would be just peachy...

You must be talking about Ol' Saddam gassing the Kurds, right?

Yah, I'm thinking the same thing about this latest guy in KDH. He's looking down the multiple barrels of a firing squad. The UCMJ still provides for firing squads, doesn't it? Calley got life, but only served, like, 3 or 4 years before he got released. If you call getting off of house arrest being released...

Calley was a 2LT, which is a commissioned officer. He was the only one to be convicted and serve any time, so I'm not following your comment, CF.

Someone's singing, Lord... Kumbaya... Someone's singing, Lord, Kumbayaaaaaaa..."

If my memory serves, that would be the anniversary of Lt. Calley's Folly.

Shit, just when I was getting ready to rotate in.

I was wondering if you were gonna pick up on this thread...