My Afghanistan Journal: 2008-10-12

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Goodbye McCrady, Hello Kuwait

Today is our last day here at Camp McCrady. Shortly after midnight tonight, we'll catch our flight to Kuwait where we'll spend several days adjusting to the time change and practice more on the M-16 rifle range. While we're in transit, check out the video MC1 Monica Nelson and I produced about our three weeks of training here at Camp McCrady. Enjoy!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Time to pack your bags

12 OCT
If you hold any resentment against your parents for not buying you a bunk bed as a kid; don’t. Bunk beds suck, especially if you’re the guy on the top.

Well, I found out today that my misery on the top bunk will soon be coming to an end. We now have the official word on our travel plans. Thursday morning at 1:30AM, we’re boarding a bus for the airport. I’m not sure who our travel agent is, but they should be fired. I don’t want to go into much detail except to say our next destination is Kuwait where we’ll spend 5-to-9 days living and training in one of the worst environments on Earth. The temperature is over 100 degrees and the base doesn’t have any running water. We’ll be sleeping on the floor in tents, eating nothing but MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and wearing body armor and shooting all day. Sound like fun? Actually, I’m sort of looking forward to it. Trust me, I’d rather be home with Susan and the kids (I miss them VERY much) but someday my children will be studying this in History class and I’m seeing it first hand.

Best of all, once I put boots on the ground in the Middle East, my paycheck is Tax Free baby. I love the military.

While that’s a nice benefit, it comes at a cost. Today in class, we got a very honest lecture from Drill SGT Bowers on the dangers of traveling in convoys and spotting IEDs or roadside bombs. These bastards we’re fighting are very smart and constantly changing their tactics. They’re also very sophisticated in the detonation devices they are using. When in a convoy, you have to be 100% in the game, ever vigilant and knowledgeable of the battle plan. This Wednesday, Alpha Company will coordinate our own convoy. We’re told to keep on the lookout for anything and everything. I have a pretty good feeling the instructors will be coordinating an attack. The convoy training will be the final exercise of our training here at Camp McCrady. This place has been long and grueling, but I am 1000% better trained for this mission than when I deployed to Bahrain in 2005.

Exhausted!

7-11 OCT
Three words sums up the past week, READY, AIM, FIRE. We have been on the pistol and rifle ranges all week long shooting, shooting and shooting. We’re up at 0430 and on the drill deck at 0515 in full battle rattle. That’s body armor, helmet, all the pads and our weapons. After breakfast, we hit range after range after range shooting at different scenarios. Sometimes it’s targets up to 300 meters away. Sometimes is a “stress test” that requires us to run from station to station in different shooting positions and score kills on moving targets. In the hot weather with all that gear on, the past week has been EXHAUSTING. This is why I haven’t written a single word until right now. As soon as we’d return to the barracks, I’ve been asleep within minutes of getting undressed.

The kids are doing great but this past week, Susan and I have been a little snippy towards each other. It’s probably my fault as it was a tough week and I probably was not the most agreeable partner. We can’t act this way toward each other so early in the game. We still have a long, long way to go.

The drill instructors knew how hard they worked us all week long so they gave us much of Saturday and all of Sunday off. This has done wonders for my body and spirit. In addition to some much needed sleep, I actually went off base a couple time to eat and see a movie.

On Youtube, I found an AWESOME video about the training here. You have to check it out. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4GqXYKtyVY. If it doesn’t connect, search for it under the title, “Too Easy, Army Training for Squids.”

My friend LT Corley also posted a funny video about us on his on web site. Check it it. The video is called, “Funny things happen when you send fathers to war.” Here’s the link to the video: http://amyszooathome.blogspot.com/.

I also found some guys blog about his experience in Afghanistan. On it he has a Jeff Foxworthy like list entitled, “You might be a Taliban member if…” Great stuff. I posted the list below.

You Might Be A Taliban Member If...
1. You refine heroin for a living, but you have a moral objection to beer.
2. You own a $3,000 machine gun and $5,000 rocket launcher, but you can't afford shoes.
3. You have more wives than teeth.
4. You wipe your butt with your bare left hand, but consider bacon "unclean."
5. You think vests come in two styles: bullet-proof and suicide.
6. You can't think of anyone you HAVEN'T declared Jihad against.
7. You consider television dangerous, but routinely carry explosives in your clothing.
8. You were amazed to discover that cell phones have uses other than setting off roadside bombs.
9. You've ever uttered the phrase, "I love what you've done with your cave."
10. You have nothing against women and think every man should own at least one.
11. You bathe at least monthly whether necessary or not.
12. You've ever had a crush on your neighbor's goat.

Scuttlebutt has it that our training will be wrapping up sooner than later. We’re supposed to be here until Friday but rumors are going around that we will be shipping out late, late Wednesday night. I know we’ve been training for war, but it doesn’t really hit home until you’re told to keep your bags semi-packed. I’ll let you know more when we get the official word. Until then, goodnight.

For sale: 1965 Ford Mustang

6 OCT
I love a battalion run. That’s when everyone here at Camp McCrady runs in formation for several miles. Sure it’s great exercise, but it’s the songs I love the most. “When my Grandma was 92, she did PT better than you. When my Grandma was 93, she did PT better than me.”

It’s here I have also made the decision to sell my 1965 Ford Mustang. I now want to buy an Up-Armored HUMVEE. Today we began convoy training and my team of four took turns driving and riding in every position. While my Mustang has plenty of horsepower, you felt totally invincible driving that 2,000 pound beast. Unfortunately, I don’t think it would fit in the spare garage.

It’s also amazing to see I’m actually getting used to carrying all this body armor. The 60-plus pounds of weight don’t feel as heavy anymore. I guess it’s better to get used to it here than when I have boots on the ground in Afghanistan.

Aaaaaahhhhh!

5 OCT
Day off. I slept all day. What a great day!

Get off you "brass"

4 OCT
We spent a long, sweaty day on the pistol range today. After we shot all our rounds, I qualified as an “expert.” What the Army failed to tell us is that after we were done shooting, we needed to pick up and account for all the brass casings. We spent just as many hours digging through the grass looking for all the spent rounds as we did shooting them. All of this we did, by the way, in full body armor. I think I dropped 5 pounds of water weight by days end.

Ready, Aim, Fire

3 OCT
Today was spent qualifying on the M-16 firing range. I qualified on the weapon without any problem, but that wasn’t the real confidence builder. That came after the shoot was over and we were required to break down the weapon, clean it and resemble it. We got training on how to do this several days ago and I guess it stuck. I tore it apart and now she shines. I just hope it fires next time we head back to the range!

Drivers Ed was never like this

2 OCT
Cool day of training. The morning was spent in a simulator that demonstrates what it’s like to be in a HUMVEE that’s been hit by an IED. Once it rolls over 180-degrees, the team of four has :20 seconds to unbuckle, fall to the roof and make their way out the nearest operating exit. After that, we spent the afternoon shooting M-16s on a “virtual” shooting range. Not to brag, but it only took me nine shots to qualify in the virtual world. Tomorrow, it’s off to the real range.

A change in mood

1 OCT
0530 we began Army PT. I can’t believe I stressed out about this. We stretched, did a few push-ups, sprints and a timed 1-mile run. Not a big deal at all. After that we got two EXCELLENT briefs. The first was on what to do if captured; how to react and the moral code of conduct. At the end, the Lt. Col. who gave the brief teared up, thanked us for our service and in "Hill Street Blues" fashion, told us to be careful out there. The second brief was on combat first aid. This brief contained dozens of pictures of battlefront injuries from bullets and IEDs. These pictures were extremely graphic and brought home the reality that each and everyone one of us is going off to war. After this brief there was a definite change in mood.

Can I get this is a 42 Regular?

30 SEPT
The day was supposed to start with Army PT at 0530, but it was rained out. Rained out? What happened to being “Army strong?” The Navy wouldn’t let a little rain stop us. After changing clothes, we were issued our M-16 and M9 pistol. Breaking them down and cleaning them is critical if you want them to work in combat so that’s how we spent the next several hours. Before we called it a day, we were inspected in our full battle rattle. It’s just like getting suited up for a football game, elbow pads, knee pads and the body armor. I’ll be wearing this in the winter in Afghanistan where it’s very cold so the more layers the better. But for the guys who have to wear this in the summer heat, wow, thank goodness I’m not one of them. When I took it off, I was drenched and it’s only 75-80 degrees here.

Welcome to the Army Mr. Hecht

29 SEPT
Today training began at 0500 on the “grinder.” We showed up in our Army fatigues and formed up in formation. I’m a proud Sailor in Alpha Company, third platoon. The day was spent going from warehouse to warehouse with our sea bags open like a bunch of trick or treaters. Army staff filled those bags with everything a GI needs; canteens, a sleeping bag, even more uniforms and 60-pounds of body armor. Tomorrow, we’ll each get an M-16 and 9mm pistol. During the entire training process, we are forbidden to be anywhere on base without our body armor and our weapons. That’s how it’s done in theater so that’s how it’s done here. It was a long, HOT day lunging three sea bags full of equipment around. My hat is off to our ground forces. I now remember why I joined the Navy. In the barracks, just about every guy is talking to his wife and kids on their web cam. Amazing how far along technology has come.

There are now more than 300 of us here. We’re all doing the same training but not everyone is headed to Afghanistan like me. Some are going to Iraq, some the Horn of Africa and a couple of lucky dogs are going to CENTCOM in TAMPA! I can't believe a tour in Tampa counts
for an IA as much as a tour in Afghanistan or Iraq. I'd think different if it were a tour in Detroit or East St. Louis.

Aaaahhhh....

28 SEPT
Sunday – day off. Did a four mile run then watched a little football. After today, alcohol is prohibited so just about everyone had a beer in hand.

Hello Camp McCrady

27 SEPT
Arrived at Camp McCrady near Columbia, South Carolina. Time; 22:00. We were issued blankets, sheets and an itchy Army blanket then hit the sack. I’m assigned to the officer’s barrack. Turns out another Navy PAO is in the group, LT James Stockman. We’ve become good pals here. We both got stuck with top bunks. Top bunks suck!

NMPS San Diego

21-27 SEPT
Mom and Dad picked me up at the airport in San Diego. They’re sad to see me go, but were thrilled to spend a free week bunking with me at the Navy Lodge. More than 150 sailors showed up at the NMPS (Navy Mobilization and Processing Site) to begin the journey, however, within the first 48 hours a third were determined to be medically disqualified. I was only of the lucky ones still standing. It was a pretty easy week with plenty of downtime. I actually had time to explore with Mom and Dad and find their old apartment near Balboa Park where they lived more than 60-years ago when Dad was in the Navy.

The highlight of the week was getting on the plane and leaving. I don’t mean that the way it sounds. As we waited to board the plane, the staff from the NMPS walked the line shaking our hands and thanking us for our service. They knew they were sending us off into harms way. And as we took off, the staff stood at attention along the runway and rendered a salute. Very patriotic and much appreciated!