Goodbye MC1 & MC2

Yesterday, MC1 Nelson and MC2 Ramirez packed their bags and headed back to the U.S. Both of them did an outstanding job for me here in Afghanistan and have well earned their plane tickets home.

Monica spent 95% of her deployment forward deployed in RC West shooting pictures and writing stories. She was constantly on the lookout for opportunities and never once flinched at going outside the wire for a good story. Every one of her photos were of award winning calibur and her articles were always interesting. While I constantly had to hound my teams for their stories, I always new I'd be getting two to three stories a week from Monica. She isn't just reliable and talented, she's also one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. While we sometimes say half heartedly at going away parties, "I hope we cross paths again," with Monica I honestly mean it. This is a Sailor who will be a Chief someday soon and the young Sailors under her should consider themselves very luck.

Aramis is also another one of those very talented guys with a pen and a camera. When given an assignment, you don't have to worry about the final product. He took thousands of outstanding pictures here and the two ISAF Mirror magazines he put together were leaps and bounds beyond their predecessors. Granted, he needed a swift kick in the butt from time to time to write a story, but when he did it was usually gold. Socially, this is a guy who is more comfortable meeting you on the Internet then in person. He's a little on the shy side. But that's okay, everyone is different and Aramis taught me to accept our differences.

Afghanistan left its mark on these two so it was only fair they were given their chance to leave their mark on ISAF HQ. The lasting mark this team leaves behind is our studio and hidden behind a black curtain, we have begun a tradition of signing our names on the wall. Tech Sergeant Nipper was the first with MC1 Nelson and MC2 Ramirez adding their mark yesterday. MC1 Matlock is next and someday, someday way down the line, I'll get to sign it too.

MC1 Nelson and MC2 Ramirez, good luck in your Navy journey.