On our own now

Today is 15 Feb. 2009. The guys that we are replacing here, are now gone. They flew out this afternoon and are on their way home. It was a great learning experience to see them work. I am looking forward to getting down range and actually doing a mission in the "hot zone." I have heard many stories of the other LLVI (Low Level Voice Intercept) teams and their accomplishments. I know you guys will forgive me for not telling them on this blog. I will let you all know in person once I get home. Not something that can be put on the net, due to the nature of the beast. I hope to have some of my own to tell, as well.

Any way, we are now here on our own and are awaiting further guidance from above. I have my guys relaxing and getting to know the systems intricacies so as to be able to operate the system with out having to think about it. It is a rather simple system once you get the "buttonology" down. Heck, if I can do it, a monkey can do it. LOL I am not a Computer savvy person, as most of you know. Not dumb, just not computer savvy.

So, now that we are here with out the "right seat" riders and it is all up to us, I feel like things are going to go well. I have great confidence in my team and their ability to do this. I also know that our ISR guy, that is the 11X (11B with a TS Clearance) that is assigned to protect us, is going to be a great asset. He has caught a bunch of crap from higher, but, now that we are on our own, I can protect him a little better from all the minutia that the C2 element puts us through.

We hope to go down range in the next few days. From what I understand, the gaining unit is eager to have us and is looking forward to our arrival. I am glad to hear that, since it was not too long ago that most commanders did not understand our capabilities and would rather do things the "old school" way and left the LLVI teams in the tents, un-utilized. Now, they are wondering how they did with out us all those years. I love being needed. It is a wonderful feeling.

As most of you know. I do not go far with out my tools. This trip is no exception. I brought with me, most of my DeWalt Power Tools. Of course there is no steady power source out here. So, I brought only the 18V battery powered tools that I can charge when there is power. I am looking forward to building my new home-away-from-home (the "Taj Ma Hut II")once we get to our new location. I think we are going to be pretty popular for not only our ability to take out the enemy, but, also for the tools we are going to have on hand. LOL Apparently, it is still difficult to get tools around here. That has not change from the last time I was here.

I will write again as access allows.