Well, I was expecting a relatively uneventful day today and I am happy to say it was not the case. The day started off really well. I walked the camp and looked at all the things that needed my attention. There was no shortage of things needing repair. I was pretty pleased that there are a lot of things that I can improve upon. I met with the KBR representative for turning in the work orders as well as the service representative for the Service orders. The first is for things that need doing, the second is for things that need fixing. All of that, went well. Most of them are from Serbia or other former soviet nations and are eager to work as well. Unlike most of the American KBR, where you have to hope to get one that is willing to do anything. They think that work is beneath them or something.
Then came my first TEST, the challenge. Remember I said I have a vehicle that belongs to the Mayor Cell? Well the Company Commander and I had a pissing contest over "WHOSE vehicle is it anyway?" I played politics on this one. I know, I know, those of you who know me are thinking "no way, who is this, writing this blog?" But, I did, and it payed off. I just told him the facts and said "but I am not sure, it is just what I was briefed by HIGHER, Sir." and he later came to me in a much humbled tone and said he does not want to start off on the wrong foot, so he just wants us to SHARE the vehicle. I guess I did OK on this one. I did not bow up to him and so he did not lose face and thus we both got what we wanted. I guess I am getting soft in my old age. LOL
Anyway, we are going to have our next challenge when it comes to occupying the building that we are in. It seems that he wants to take over the entire office and half of the area where people come in to conduct Camp Business. That is the Mayor Cell Building and the previous mayor let him move in to half of the back office because he was not using it and now he is starting to expand into my area. I, yet again, am going to have to plant my feet and start to PUSH against the forces of Nature. I am, however, going to try to parlay this in to a new facility that I want to build not far from the existing one. I am hoping that if I offer to build it myself the facilities manager will let me do it. The lumber is plentifully, it is the cost of labor that we are tightly budgeting.
Well it is time for me to get busy with some on line registration. I am going to sign up for some college classes in order to better utilize my time here. I will write again soon.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The good news just keeps a coming
I was just named the Camp Mayor. It looks like I am going to be staying here at Bagram for a while. From what I have been told thus far, I am going to like this new position. I am good at stepping on toes if I need to, to get things done. I have always believed in "soldiers first" and that is not what was happening here before. I have been told that the last Mayor did a lot of the "what's in it for me" kind of dealings.
One of the most attractive benefits for me is that now I have a vehicle to drive. I got a Ford Everest as the mayor's vehicle. For those of you back home, who have never heard of a Ford Everest, it is basically an Explorer except a little smaller and has a 4 cylinder diesel engine with 5 speed manual. The only thing is with that is that the speed limit here on post is 15 miles an hour. For those of you who know me well, know that this is trouble just waiting to happen.
I did learn that it is pretty sure now that I will not be going home on leave in August. That is not a big deal since I would feel guilty going home in place of another soldier who might be down range and not living as nicely as those of us who are on established bases. To my friends and family who were expecting me home in a few months, I am sorry.
I will post some pictures of this area for you guys to see, once I get my stuff unpacked and organized and get my camera out. I will probably not write as often here now that there really is not much to write about. This post is rather well established and there is not much excitement around here. We do have a lot of activities here on base to keep us busy during our off times. I am going to be signing up for some college classes here in a few days to help pass the evening time. But, other than that, there is not much going on here. I will write again later and post some pics as I get them.
One of the most attractive benefits for me is that now I have a vehicle to drive. I got a Ford Everest as the mayor's vehicle. For those of you back home, who have never heard of a Ford Everest, it is basically an Explorer except a little smaller and has a 4 cylinder diesel engine with 5 speed manual. The only thing is with that is that the speed limit here on post is 15 miles an hour. For those of you who know me well, know that this is trouble just waiting to happen.
I did learn that it is pretty sure now that I will not be going home on leave in August. That is not a big deal since I would feel guilty going home in place of another soldier who might be down range and not living as nicely as those of us who are on established bases. To my friends and family who were expecting me home in a few months, I am sorry.
I will post some pictures of this area for you guys to see, once I get my stuff unpacked and organized and get my camera out. I will probably not write as often here now that there really is not much to write about. This post is rather well established and there is not much excitement around here. We do have a lot of activities here on base to keep us busy during our off times. I am going to be signing up for some college classes here in a few days to help pass the evening time. But, other than that, there is not much going on here. I will write again later and post some pics as I get them.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Some good news
Today, I received some rather good news from my Commander. As it turns out, I impressed him with some of the repair work that I have done since I have been here. It seems that he wants me to take over as the Camp Mayor of the camp that we are in right now. I would be in charge of assigning the soldiers a room and taking care of all the repairs that need doing. Not actually doing all the repairs myself, just getting the work orders in and making sure that they are done on time.
This is right up my alley. I love doing this kind of stuff. And actually, I would probably do most of the repair work myself just so it is done right. I also now have my own room and have just gotten Internet run to my room. I am now sitting on my bed typing this blog and loving it. All I need now is a TV and a Phone and I will be right at home.
The TV is rather easy. I can get cable for only $25 a month. I can also do the VOIP if I want to but there is a hell of a delay. The last time I had it, it was around 6 seconds. Most people hung up thinking that there was no one there, before my voice made it to their end. It was rather difficult to talk even if I got through. Well any way, it is getting late here and I am going to have to get up early tomorrow.
I will write again as soon as I know whether I am going to stay here or not.
This is right up my alley. I love doing this kind of stuff. And actually, I would probably do most of the repair work myself just so it is done right. I also now have my own room and have just gotten Internet run to my room. I am now sitting on my bed typing this blog and loving it. All I need now is a TV and a Phone and I will be right at home.
The TV is rather easy. I can get cable for only $25 a month. I can also do the VOIP if I want to but there is a hell of a delay. The last time I had it, it was around 6 seconds. Most people hung up thinking that there was no one there, before my voice made it to their end. It was rather difficult to talk even if I got through. Well any way, it is getting late here and I am going to have to get up early tomorrow.
I will write again as soon as I know whether I am going to stay here or not.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Still at Bagram
Well it is now the 5th of April and I am still at Bagram. It looks like I am going to be here for a while. This reorganization is going to take a while to get ironed out. Thus, as soon as they know where I am going to be going, I will be told. As is stands right now, no one knows what the Battalion structure is going to look like. We have our Colonel fighting for his idea of what his organization should look like. And we have a few Generals wanting their individual ideas of what they want us to do, and thus it is all up in the air.
I am, however, enjoying this time I have been granted. I do keep busy with office work, but, I also have time to do things that I want to do. I am staying away from the Bazaar and the "Haji shops" because I do not want to be tempted to spend any more money. My goal is to be debt free by the time I get back, and it is looking like it is going to happen. Minus the two houses, of course. I have that laid out on a five year plan.
I weighed myself the other day while in the Mayor Cell Office. They happened to have scale there in the hall way. I was surprised to find out that I weigh 189 with my uniform on and my side arm w/ammo and boots on. Oh, and all the stuff in all my pockets. I figure that all that stuff is around 18 Lbs. so I am now down in the 170's. Not bad considering I left home weighing just under 200 Lbs. I guess that is what happens when you eat One MRE per day for few weeks and do a lot of physical work at the same time.
I will be starting to go to the gym here, if I do not get out of here soon. The food here is really good and I do not want to gain that weight back.
It looks like I am not going to be going home in Aug like I was told I would be doing. I might not be able to go home at all during this deployment as it looks right now. It appears that Battalion does not have enough slots to get us all home for our leaves and thus the higher ranking individuals will not be getting leave. Of course, if you are high ranking and work here in Bagram, where you have connections, that does not apply. But, for those of us who are down range, we get hosed.
Well I have to go. My computer number was just called and my time is up. I will write again soon.
I am, however, enjoying this time I have been granted. I do keep busy with office work, but, I also have time to do things that I want to do. I am staying away from the Bazaar and the "Haji shops" because I do not want to be tempted to spend any more money. My goal is to be debt free by the time I get back, and it is looking like it is going to happen. Minus the two houses, of course. I have that laid out on a five year plan.
I weighed myself the other day while in the Mayor Cell Office. They happened to have scale there in the hall way. I was surprised to find out that I weigh 189 with my uniform on and my side arm w/ammo and boots on. Oh, and all the stuff in all my pockets. I figure that all that stuff is around 18 Lbs. so I am now down in the 170's. Not bad considering I left home weighing just under 200 Lbs. I guess that is what happens when you eat One MRE per day for few weeks and do a lot of physical work at the same time.
I will be starting to go to the gym here, if I do not get out of here soon. The food here is really good and I do not want to gain that weight back.
It looks like I am not going to be going home in Aug like I was told I would be doing. I might not be able to go home at all during this deployment as it looks right now. It appears that Battalion does not have enough slots to get us all home for our leaves and thus the higher ranking individuals will not be getting leave. Of course, if you are high ranking and work here in Bagram, where you have connections, that does not apply. But, for those of us who are down range, we get hosed.
Well I have to go. My computer number was just called and my time is up. I will write again soon.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
I am back at the beginning.
I just arrived at Bagram Air Field. (BAF) This is were we started our journey, back on the 30th of January. We were supposed to get on a flight at around 10PM last night, but, the CH-47 did not get there until around 3:30 AM. We finally arrived here at BAF at around 5:00 AM and I ended up going to sleep around 7:00 AM. I got up at 9 and started my day. I am now taking a little time to do somethings on line and decided to post this so you guys know what is going on.
I still have not been told where I am going. It looks like I might be able to just stay here at BAF as the company admin clerk. I would much rather do that then go out and do the mission they were talking about.
There is a lot of crap to put up with here at BAF. Like for example, at night, you have to wear a reflective belt when outside. IF you do not have one on you and visible, you get arrested and hauled down to the PMO (Provost Marshals Office) and your commander has to come bail you out and you are fined $75. That is just the most ludicrous one. there are more that I will not go into at this time.
The upside to this place is the Massage parlor, the Burger King, the Pizza Hut (and they deliver), the Subway, the Dairy Queen, and there are more. not to mention the college opportunities that are available. I hope I can stay here. We will see. I am going to try to convince my Commander that I would be a great asset here and hope he lets me stay.
Any way, for those of you that I have been calling via my sat phone. I no longer have one of those fancy little doohickeys and thus, until I get another means of Com's, I will have to just E-mail you on occasion. I will try to get another way to contact you guys as soon as possible. If I get to stay, I will get an Internet connection in my room and get a VOIP phone. I hear that they are pretty cheap.
I still have not been told where I am going. It looks like I might be able to just stay here at BAF as the company admin clerk. I would much rather do that then go out and do the mission they were talking about.
There is a lot of crap to put up with here at BAF. Like for example, at night, you have to wear a reflective belt when outside. IF you do not have one on you and visible, you get arrested and hauled down to the PMO (Provost Marshals Office) and your commander has to come bail you out and you are fined $75. That is just the most ludicrous one. there are more that I will not go into at this time.
The upside to this place is the Massage parlor, the Burger King, the Pizza Hut (and they deliver), the Subway, the Dairy Queen, and there are more. not to mention the college opportunities that are available. I hope I can stay here. We will see. I am going to try to convince my Commander that I would be a great asset here and hope he lets me stay.
Any way, for those of you that I have been calling via my sat phone. I no longer have one of those fancy little doohickeys and thus, until I get another means of Com's, I will have to just E-mail you on occasion. I will try to get another way to contact you guys as soon as possible. If I get to stay, I will get an Internet connection in my room and get a VOIP phone. I hear that they are pretty cheap.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
It is official
I juts got back from the camp that I am based out of. Or, actually I was based out of. I did a complete inventory of the items that I am signed for, and turned them over to the new NCOIC. The man is a real piece of work. I did the process by the numbers and at the end, when I was supposed to get the DA 2062 (issuer's Hand Receipt), he tried to take the equipment and the paperwork. Telling me, that he was going to turn it in and I had no say so in the matter because his signature was on it. I tried to explain to him that the 2062 stays with me and that is my proof to my supply guy that I gave it to him. He could not grasp the concept. So I did the only thing I could do. I took back all of my equipment and told him that I will just turn it in to supply back at the rear and he would just have to go get it issued from there. So he tore up the paper work and threw it at me.
Imagine the nerve. It is like going into a store and signing the credit card receipt and taking the credit card receipt and the equipment. He could not get it through his thick skull that I already signed a 2062 for the nearly half a million dollars worth of equipment and am responsible for it. Until, that is, a new 2062 is used to off set my responsibilities.
The commander had to explain to him that he was a DIP SHIT and he needs to re-do the documents and give them to me. Of course, that was only because I refused to give it to him with out the forms and he has a mission that he needs if for, today. I do not know how someone gets to be an E-7 in the military without understanding the basic principal of the hand receipt.
I also found out why I was getting transferred to this Battalion level, CUSHY, job. It seems that I managed to piss off the local units Intel. Captain. It seems that my refusal to break OPSEC protocol pissed him off and since I would not follow his orders, he had me replaced. Now notice I said "replaced." He could not have me "fired" because what I did was "NOT' break the rules. I refused to send him the Intel he wanted over the radio. One would think that the stuff is classified "Top Secret" for a reason. I guess for these guys, it does not matter.
I just told him "NO SIR," and explained to him that when I leave here, it will be to go home to my house, not to a federal prison. I am not violating NSA guide lines just to please him. He wants the intel, he has to provide a secure means for me to get it to him. Other wise, just wait till I can link up with him every three days or so.
Now they have this new guy. He is new to the intel world and is about to have a rude awakening. I hope for his sake, that he is not as stupid as I think he is. He might not be finishing his Military career the way he was intending to. One can only wait and see. He seemed very defiant the entire time I tried to brief him on the job at hand.
I ran into trouble with him back in the states as well. He was very much one of those guys that is "ALWAYS RIGHT" simply because of his rank. I sat back and watched him berate several soldiers just because he out ranked them, even though they were right. When he tried to run ruff shot over me, I just pushed back. Those of you who know me, know that I am not one for political correctness. I speak my mind. You know where I stand on a subject if you just ask. Sometimes, you do not need to ask and I will still let you know, but, needless to say, he and I did not get along as soon as I stood up to his bullying. The final straw was when he made fun of my car.
I later found out that I inadvertently called his Motorcycle a piece of shit. I was talking to another soldier about bikes and he asked me what I thought of Harley Davidson's and I replied "Hardleys?" as in Hardley a motorcycle. He over heard that and did not much care for the comment since he had just spent over $24,000 on one. Not my fault he is crazy. Maybe these new ones are better, but, the saying is"if it is not leaking oil it is because it has all leaked out" another words, it is a piece of unreliable crap. At least that is my translation. LOL and besides, that much money on something that you can only ride on nice days and even then only for short distances. WOW.
Imagine the nerve. It is like going into a store and signing the credit card receipt and taking the credit card receipt and the equipment. He could not get it through his thick skull that I already signed a 2062 for the nearly half a million dollars worth of equipment and am responsible for it. Until, that is, a new 2062 is used to off set my responsibilities.
The commander had to explain to him that he was a DIP SHIT and he needs to re-do the documents and give them to me. Of course, that was only because I refused to give it to him with out the forms and he has a mission that he needs if for, today. I do not know how someone gets to be an E-7 in the military without understanding the basic principal of the hand receipt.
I also found out why I was getting transferred to this Battalion level, CUSHY, job. It seems that I managed to piss off the local units Intel. Captain. It seems that my refusal to break OPSEC protocol pissed him off and since I would not follow his orders, he had me replaced. Now notice I said "replaced." He could not have me "fired" because what I did was "NOT' break the rules. I refused to send him the Intel he wanted over the radio. One would think that the stuff is classified "Top Secret" for a reason. I guess for these guys, it does not matter.
I just told him "NO SIR," and explained to him that when I leave here, it will be to go home to my house, not to a federal prison. I am not violating NSA guide lines just to please him. He wants the intel, he has to provide a secure means for me to get it to him. Other wise, just wait till I can link up with him every three days or so.
Now they have this new guy. He is new to the intel world and is about to have a rude awakening. I hope for his sake, that he is not as stupid as I think he is. He might not be finishing his Military career the way he was intending to. One can only wait and see. He seemed very defiant the entire time I tried to brief him on the job at hand.
I ran into trouble with him back in the states as well. He was very much one of those guys that is "ALWAYS RIGHT" simply because of his rank. I sat back and watched him berate several soldiers just because he out ranked them, even though they were right. When he tried to run ruff shot over me, I just pushed back. Those of you who know me, know that I am not one for political correctness. I speak my mind. You know where I stand on a subject if you just ask. Sometimes, you do not need to ask and I will still let you know, but, needless to say, he and I did not get along as soon as I stood up to his bullying. The final straw was when he made fun of my car.
I later found out that I inadvertently called his Motorcycle a piece of shit. I was talking to another soldier about bikes and he asked me what I thought of Harley Davidson's and I replied "Hardleys?" as in Hardley a motorcycle. He over heard that and did not much care for the comment since he had just spent over $24,000 on one. Not my fault he is crazy. Maybe these new ones are better, but, the saying is"if it is not leaking oil it is because it has all leaked out" another words, it is a piece of unreliable crap. At least that is my translation. LOL and besides, that much money on something that you can only ride on nice days and even then only for short distances. WOW.
Monday, March 30, 2009
The ride is over
I just linked up with my commander and he dropped a bombshell on me. And I do not mean a "Blond Bomb Shell, " either. I am being moved up to a Battalion level job. I have to hand my team off to someone else. I am not the happiest camper right now. It is not something I was expecting to be told. All I know is that they want me to do some analyst work on the intel that is being collected out here. Apparently they got this big idea that I would be good at something like that. Something about my ability to see things from a different perspective, I guess. Or maybe they just HATE me and want to torture me with a desk job. At least that is what I am envisioning. Not sure where I am going to be going or for that matter, for how long I will be doing this new job. But, I hate it already.
I was just getting used to the idea of having to move to this new location that we were going to. And now, POW, pack up and move again. "Don't ask where, 'cause I do not know." That was what I was told by the commander. Hell, if he does not know, what the hell is going on here. He is supposed to know where all of us are at all times. I think he knows I am not going to like it and he does not want to tell me until we get back to the rear.
Well, any way, I did plan on putting up some really positive info today so here is goes. Yesterday, we had a FANTABULOUS dinner. They were serving T-bone steaks and Scallops with mixed veggies and I made a Root Beer float with the ice cream and A&W Root Beer that was in the cooler. It was like a small piece of heaven had dropped into our laps. I guess that is Gods way of balancing out the week. A few small bad things a few small good things and then a HUGE bad thing. I just hope that there is, somewhere in the very near future, a HUGE good thing to level it out. LOL
I do not know if I am going to have access to the web where I am going to be, so yet again, I will do the best that I can. I am also loosing the Sat Phones in this move, so I do not know if or when I will be able to call home again. Please bear with me back home. I will do what I can to get some phone time.
I was just getting used to the idea of having to move to this new location that we were going to. And now, POW, pack up and move again. "Don't ask where, 'cause I do not know." That was what I was told by the commander. Hell, if he does not know, what the hell is going on here. He is supposed to know where all of us are at all times. I think he knows I am not going to like it and he does not want to tell me until we get back to the rear.
Well, any way, I did plan on putting up some really positive info today so here is goes. Yesterday, we had a FANTABULOUS dinner. They were serving T-bone steaks and Scallops with mixed veggies and I made a Root Beer float with the ice cream and A&W Root Beer that was in the cooler. It was like a small piece of heaven had dropped into our laps. I guess that is Gods way of balancing out the week. A few small bad things a few small good things and then a HUGE bad thing. I just hope that there is, somewhere in the very near future, a HUGE good thing to level it out. LOL
I do not know if I am going to have access to the web where I am going to be, so yet again, I will do the best that I can. I am also loosing the Sat Phones in this move, so I do not know if or when I will be able to call home again. Please bear with me back home. I will do what I can to get some phone time.
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