Today, I was shocked to find out that all of the lumber that I have worked for was gone. I built the Marines a gazebo so that I could have the left over lumber that they ordered. That was the deal I worked out with the Major that was in charge. Imagine my surprise when I went back there to see how much lumber I had to work with for the next project and I found that there was not even one of the 2x10x16s left in the stack. I promptly went on a search mission and found that the lumber had been used to build a deck in between a row of B-huts. And it was not even a deck that is worthy of being called a deck. He nailed the 2x10’s to some pallets and called it good. What a waste of quality lumber.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that the person who had taken all that lumber, without even so much as a please may I, was a soldier in my own unit. I had a talk with the man and he seemed to have no remorse what so ever. He will be surprised to learn, tomorrow, that the lumber will be returned to me one way or another. Especially since that lumber has been planned for this other project for more than a month. The IEW shop has been waiting patiently for their outdoor work platform and I am not about to let them down.
It appears that this person has been known to do things like this in the past. He has no regard for other people’s property. If he wants something and he finds it, he takes it, as though it was put there just for him to take it. Not much I can do about that at this point. I blame it on a poor upbringing. He is too old to retrain now. LOL Not to mention that he, too, is an NCO.
I finally picked up the last of the materials for the completion of the Alamo Forward. I hope to have it done in a few days so I can move on to that project for the IEW Shop. After that one is done, I will probably end up going down range to fill an order for some construction on a few of the FOBs that we are manning. I am kind of looking forward to getting out of BAF for while. I really want to see the country side. It is really beautiful here in the valleys where the water keeps things green this time of year.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Another project complete
While I am waiting for a resupply of materials for the completion of the Alamo Forward, I decided to take care of some of the other projects that were put on the back burner. I make a weapons rack in the arms room to store the 240 Bravo machine guns on. Up till now, they have been just stacked on the floor and constantly in the way. It seemed that every time we needed something out the arms room, it happens to be just where the 240B's are setting. Well that is no more. I made a rack that can hold 26 of them and not be in the way of anything else.
Once I was finished with that, I started on a "shore board" I am not sure how to describe it except that it is a device that is used to measure babies' and young children's height. It is a board onto which you place the baby in the correct position and once you lower the top, the medics can determine the correct height of the child. I do not have any pictures of it yet, but, I will get some and post them at a later date. I will say this. I just saved the Government over $1000.00. As it turns out, the boards that I made cost around $425.00 EACH and it costs $150 a pair to ship.
The only reason this even happened was because it was going to take too long to get the company to ship it out here. I was approached by one of the medical company NCO's and asked if I knew any one that could possibly build a couple of these. I figured I would try. I turned out to be a real success. Just so you know, I love saving tax payer money. There is nothing more frustrating, to me, than to see how much we are charged for the simplest little thing once the seller discovers that it is the "government" that is footing the bill. The sad thing is that we are teaching this to the locals as well.
Monday, June 1, 2009
We have a new Commander
We had a change of command ceremony today. The Battalion Commander (BC) has been called to a new mission and has been replaced by the Executive Officer (XO). We did the formal ceremony this morning. It was not too bad. The speeches were held to a minimum by all the people involved. Of course they all started with the obligatory “I will keep this short" statement and then they all went into a monologue that lasted a little longer than they said it would, but, it was not too bad. And in most cases, the speeches were actually relevant to the ceremony. I have some pictures, but, not with me. I will down load them from my camera later and post them.
I also have some update about what is going on with me here at BAF. I am still the Project Guy here, but, I am also the Mayor again, just not officially. I still do all the Mayor Cell things that I did before, except for the stuff that involves dealing with the Billeting office. That is being handled by my assistant. I am, however, not in my office much lately because of the Alamo Forward. This makes things easier.
The Alamo Forward is coming right along. I have hit a stopping point due to supply issues. It seems that we have a thief on post. I was hit for 35 sheets of plywood and then I found out that the same night some other units also were hit and lost plywood and other things like 2x4's and 2x6's. I now have to wait for a resupply of materials to finish the Gazebo. I will get some pictures of that as well, once I am finished, and post them on here.
It also looks like I am going to be getting leave after all. This in not for sure yet, but, I was told that it is looking like some leave slots are going to open up either in August or September. I do not know if I even want to look forward to that right now with the way things are going. I hate to get my hopes up because things are so fluid here that nothing is for sure until it is actually happening.
I also have some update about what is going on with me here at BAF. I am still the Project Guy here, but, I am also the Mayor again, just not officially. I still do all the Mayor Cell things that I did before, except for the stuff that involves dealing with the Billeting office. That is being handled by my assistant. I am, however, not in my office much lately because of the Alamo Forward. This makes things easier.
The Alamo Forward is coming right along. I have hit a stopping point due to supply issues. It seems that we have a thief on post. I was hit for 35 sheets of plywood and then I found out that the same night some other units also were hit and lost plywood and other things like 2x4's and 2x6's. I now have to wait for a resupply of materials to finish the Gazebo. I will get some pictures of that as well, once I am finished, and post them on here.
It also looks like I am going to be getting leave after all. This in not for sure yet, but, I was told that it is looking like some leave slots are going to open up either in August or September. I do not know if I even want to look forward to that right now with the way things are going. I hate to get my hopes up because things are so fluid here that nothing is for sure until it is actually happening.
Monday, May 25, 2009
The Alamo Forward is coming along
We christened the Alamo Forward today. Today was Memorial day and even though the project is not complete, we had a cook out on the deck. The project is about 60% complete, but, is lacking the electrical work and the roof. I have to wait on the walls until the electrical wires are all run and then I can seal it all up and I will get the roof on this week. Then I can run the wires for the lights once that is done. These pictures are from today. The one with the wall that is swung open, is where the 52 Inch Plasma TV is going to go, once the project is complete. It will swing open when in use and be able to be locked up when not. There is a torn parachute that we used as a temporary roof so as to not be in the sun all day while cooking on the new grill that was made here, for us, by the husband of one of our soldiers. He works for KBR and knows some welder who did him a favor.
I like it so much that I am going to build me something like this once I get home. I will use it for a work shop and storage shed with a deck for sitting outside and having cook outs for my friends and neighbors. I think I can get the material for less than $5K and if I do the labor myself, well then that part is free. It may take a few months to get it done, but, it will improve the home value for when I get ready to sell. I will, however, not use plywood for the outside walls. I plan on using Hardy board instead.
I got fired today
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I seemed to piss off Captains on a regular basis. It seems that I got in the middle, between a Retired One Star and the OIC of Billeting, Captain Cunningham. She, Cpt Cunningham, has been on a power trip since the day I met her. I did everything I could to appease her and tried to help people despite her seeming intentional inconveniencing of the people around her.
From the beginning: I was sent a Retired Brigadier General (One Star) to house in my area, along with his staff. He is the SIGAR (Special Inspector General Afghan Region). Basically, he inspects different units to make sure that they are not doing anything inappropriate. Anyway, he was assigned his rooms and they were spread out throughout the camp. This was, despite the fact the he requested to keep his people isolated from other people due to the possible conflict of interest that could arise from sharing living quarters with someone from a unit that might fall under investigation. Not to mention the fact that the walls are thin and thus, others could hear confidential conversations.
So, be being the go-to-guy that I am, when he asked me to try to get him and his people into a B-Hut that was isolated, I just said “I will do my best to make it happen” and proceeded to try to make it happen. I found a suitable B-Hut that had two vacancies in it and asked the other two people if they would mind relocating into comparable rooms in another B-Hut. One said “no problem” and the other was on his way home anyway so it worked out great. Well, that is when the S#!t hit the fan. Cpt Cunningham had a conniption fit and took away the fourth room and assigned it to some SGM that was not even here yet.
Well, the One Star’s other assistant arrived before the SGM and he moved into that room. As soon as the Cpt found out, she had me place a sign on the door telling him to go see billeting and lock out the guy by putting a lock on the room door’s hasp. Of course as soon as the General got back and heard what had happened he came looking for me. He tore into me as I stood there at attention and then parade rest. As he stopped to take a breath, I interrupted him and explained to him that I had nothing to do with what was going on. He then asked me what I knew about it and I told him. He then blew up and vented some frustration. As I reminded him that it was over my head and I could not do anything for him on this matter.
He then proceeded to the billeting office. Mind you that this is happening after 2200 hrs. (10 PM). He did not go to Cpt Cunningham. He did not even go to her boss. He went to her boss’s boss. Not one step above her, but, two. He got his way, of course. So now we get to me and how I lost my job. Since Cpt Cunningham did not get her way on this, that left only one person that she could take it out on. That one person would be me. She called my 1SG and told him to replace me. The excuse that she used was that I cannot follow orders and contradicting her. She has butted heads with almost everyone that out ranks her. I think she takes pride and great pleasure in pushing people around. I guess that is part of the character trait found in Police. And yes, she is an MP (Military Police).
The bottom line is that I am looking for a new job. LOL well, not a new job. I am still in the army and my Battalion is very pleased with my work ethics and desire to do what needs to be done.
From the beginning: I was sent a Retired Brigadier General (One Star) to house in my area, along with his staff. He is the SIGAR (Special Inspector General Afghan Region). Basically, he inspects different units to make sure that they are not doing anything inappropriate. Anyway, he was assigned his rooms and they were spread out throughout the camp. This was, despite the fact the he requested to keep his people isolated from other people due to the possible conflict of interest that could arise from sharing living quarters with someone from a unit that might fall under investigation. Not to mention the fact that the walls are thin and thus, others could hear confidential conversations.
So, be being the go-to-guy that I am, when he asked me to try to get him and his people into a B-Hut that was isolated, I just said “I will do my best to make it happen” and proceeded to try to make it happen. I found a suitable B-Hut that had two vacancies in it and asked the other two people if they would mind relocating into comparable rooms in another B-Hut. One said “no problem” and the other was on his way home anyway so it worked out great. Well, that is when the S#!t hit the fan. Cpt Cunningham had a conniption fit and took away the fourth room and assigned it to some SGM that was not even here yet.
Well, the One Star’s other assistant arrived before the SGM and he moved into that room. As soon as the Cpt found out, she had me place a sign on the door telling him to go see billeting and lock out the guy by putting a lock on the room door’s hasp. Of course as soon as the General got back and heard what had happened he came looking for me. He tore into me as I stood there at attention and then parade rest. As he stopped to take a breath, I interrupted him and explained to him that I had nothing to do with what was going on. He then asked me what I knew about it and I told him. He then blew up and vented some frustration. As I reminded him that it was over my head and I could not do anything for him on this matter.
He then proceeded to the billeting office. Mind you that this is happening after 2200 hrs. (10 PM). He did not go to Cpt Cunningham. He did not even go to her boss. He went to her boss’s boss. Not one step above her, but, two. He got his way, of course. So now we get to me and how I lost my job. Since Cpt Cunningham did not get her way on this, that left only one person that she could take it out on. That one person would be me. She called my 1SG and told him to replace me. The excuse that she used was that I cannot follow orders and contradicting her. She has butted heads with almost everyone that out ranks her. I think she takes pride and great pleasure in pushing people around. I guess that is part of the character trait found in Police. And yes, she is an MP (Military Police).
The bottom line is that I am looking for a new job. LOL well, not a new job. I am still in the army and my Battalion is very pleased with my work ethics and desire to do what needs to be done.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Project is coming along
Well, I found my camera. Here are some pictures of the project that I am working on. This is the “Alamo Forward.” I have now put two days of work into it and it is finally beginning to look like something. It took me a days worth of work to get the deck done and now I have put up the frame work for 4 of the 5 walls. I have till this weekend to get it semi-finished. I do not think that I will get all the things done because I still do not have all of the electrical supplies for it. I will, however, have it ready for the cookout that is going to happen this weekend. There are several things I need to do for that, but, nothing that is too difficult. The hardest thing is going to be the roof. I am still not sure how I am going to get that put together and make it all work. I guess I will come up with something once I get to that point. It would be nice to have an actual set of blueprints to go by instead of just a few people's thoughts and ideas that I had to implement into the concept. Not to mention that the design has changed no less than 4 times since I began the build. I just hope it does not change again. Or, at least, not the parts that are already complete. I would hate to have to tear it down again.
I finally got my truck back from the shop. It was in for a few days for its simi-annual service. It still does not have a back window, but, that is coming soon. Now, all I have to do is find a stereo system and some speakers for it. One thing at a time, as I always say. Even though I never listen to myself on that one, since I always have at least 5 projects in the works at a time. LOL Any way, I am happy to say that I am still doing my job and loving it. I guess the bosses are happy too, since I have not been fired yet, despite the fact that I have stepped on a few toes in the process of getting my job done. And the toes I stepped on were all MUCH higher on the food chain than I am. It seems that I am good at pissing off Captains and Majors and am getting pretty good at pissing off Lieutenant Colonels too now.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Another project under way
I was tasked with the building of what they are calling the "Alamo Forward." It is supposed to be a place where we can go to relax and just sit around. There is going to be a deck, a Grill for cooking out and a room with a big screen with cable or satellite. I started on that project today. It is underway and going up fast. The footprint is 16 feet wide by 24 feet deep. The roof at the front will be 8 feet off the deck and the roof at the rear will be only 7 feet. That will give it a slight angle for the rain to run down instead of settling on the roof. I do not have any pictures as of yet, because I have no idea where my new camera went. I will get some pictures and post them as soon as I can remember where the heck I put my camera. I am starting to get that CRS syndrome real bad. The “Can’t Remember $h!t” syndrome has affected me quite a few times this last week more so than usual.
There is some good news on the horizon. The building that the mayor cell is in is about to be mine. Right now I have to share it with the 1SG and the CO of HHC. I just found out that they are moving into the building next door and that will leave me more room for all the things I have to store. I hope to also get a vehicle out of this deal. I am working on getting an M1009 (CUCV). For those that are not as OLD as I am, that is what the military used back in the early 80’s. It is a Chevy truck that has been modified from a 3/4 ton Diesel to a 1 1/4 ton. Basically they just added a few leaf springs to make it stronger and rerated the weight capacity. It is old and worn out, kind of like me. And I love it. I drove it today when I picked up the 2x10x16 boards for the frame of the “Alamo” and it did not even whimper at carrying that heavy load from one end of post to the other. It also reminds me of my dad’s “76 GMC ¾ ton truck. It is the same color and has the same interior. All that is missing is the radio.
There is some good news on the horizon. The building that the mayor cell is in is about to be mine. Right now I have to share it with the 1SG and the CO of HHC. I just found out that they are moving into the building next door and that will leave me more room for all the things I have to store. I hope to also get a vehicle out of this deal. I am working on getting an M1009 (CUCV). For those that are not as OLD as I am, that is what the military used back in the early 80’s. It is a Chevy truck that has been modified from a 3/4 ton Diesel to a 1 1/4 ton. Basically they just added a few leaf springs to make it stronger and rerated the weight capacity. It is old and worn out, kind of like me. And I love it. I drove it today when I picked up the 2x10x16 boards for the frame of the “Alamo” and it did not even whimper at carrying that heavy load from one end of post to the other. It also reminds me of my dad’s “76 GMC ¾ ton truck. It is the same color and has the same interior. All that is missing is the radio.
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