So as I left you last time, I was reassigned back to the southern part of Afghanistan in what is known as Task Order #4 and I’ll be working at Camp Leatherneck. Some of you may have heard of it in the news lately as Camp Leatherneck is the home base for the newest US offensive known as strike of the dagger. So here I am hoping to stay a while…..
My journey south began last Thursday at about 2am, when I went to take a shower. That night marked the first time since the Kuwait hotel that I was able to actually sleep on a mattress. I tell ya since this whole thing began, it amazes me the little things that become important, things that you would’ve otherwise overlooked and not thought much of. Last Wednesday my overlooked item was a mattress. It had been a whole 16 days since my last time on a mattress, and I was soooo thankful even though I only slept on it for 3 hours. Anyhow, the travel folks picked me up at 2:45 am and we headed to the Pax terminal. Me and the person whom I will spend the most time with over the next year, Cassandra (pictured above), piled up all our stuff and got it palletized, which is the military’s way of checking baggage. You go out to the flight line and put your bags on the palet at which point baggage handlers proceed to strategically place your stuff on the palet. In Cassandra’s case, the handlers had their work cut out for them with having to place about 8 pieces of stuff, including a TV. You see Cassandra is queen of comfort, and as long as she has that, she is ready to go to work! I had the best time watching military jets take off going out into the distance, watching the day start around 4am. I tell ya there hasn’t been an overcast morning here yet, each day is beautiful and totally peaceful!
We made our way on to the dash plane about 5am which is the equivalent of a commuter jet, only it was painted in its signature military gray. The flight down to Kandahar took about 1hr and 20 minutes. There wasn’t much to it, just looking around at all the different types of landscape, from mountains to desert. We landed about 6:30am and proceeded to the Palace that is the Fluor compound in Kandahar. I must say that all the folks in Kandahar have an easy assignment when it comes to living conditions!! Their compound is new, they share a room with one other dude, the A/C actually works, all the amenities that you could ask for! We stayed in Kandahar for 2.5 days. We left out at about 6:30 Saturday night after having a really nice cookout for the 4th of July at the compound! We had chicken, potato salad, potato chips, ribs, rolls…you name it we had it, except for the all important 4th staple…COLD BEER!! I tell ya, that if I could have just one cold frosty cerveza, I’d be a happy man. I can’t forget to say that Kandahar may have one of the nicest gyms I’ve been to in a while. It rivals most Lifetime fitness’!!
Anyhow, once we got to the Pax (passenger) terminal, we made our way in and scanned all our stuff…weird to me, but yeah we did. Once all our stuff was palletized, we sat around for about 30 minutes, when we boarded a bus that took us out to a C130 that was waiting on us. This was 2nd experience flying in a military big boy plane! This time it was much different. What you sat in was like a mesh for your back, and then it was a type of nylon that supported your seat….NOT COMFORTABLE!!! Luckily the flight to Leatherneck wasn’t long! We landed about 10pm after a war zone landing; however, nothing like the take off from DC that started my whole journey. It was actually pretty fun! Almost like a rollercoaster of sorts. I got to my newest cot about 11pm and got right to bed in what was a really nice cot! I’ve slept on this cot for what will be 3 nights and it’s almost as if I’m sleeping on a super plush mattress complete with a feather mattress pad….even though I haven’t ever slept on one! Camp Leatherneck, LTN, is actually very convenient having everything I need in a city block, office, latrine, shower, PX (store) and the dining facility. The past two days have been pretty hot with 111 and 125, respectively. It sure doesn’t seem this hot, but I guess that it’s due to the dry, desert that surrounds us! Other than that, the food here isn’t all that great although I do somehow eat the most well rounded meals that I ever have on a consistent basis!
Many of you have asked about the food and up until now I would say that it has far exceeded my expectations with all the variety you get, not to mention you pick how much you want. Well, Camp LTN isn’t like this in that the variety just isn’t there. We are just too remote to have the variety that Bagram or Kandahar has, but I tell you that it won’t be too long before they do! I would bet after looking at our schedule, we have about as much variety by Christmas. Work has gotten off to a great start and I’m soo encouraged by Cassandra’s strong project mgmt stills coupled with her schedule background, that I can’t wait to get my day started, knowing that we will be making a daily impact in getting our shit together, and making these Marines more comfortable and able to enjoy their free time while having to be so far from home, fighting for us! Next week, I’ll have a brief update on my living conditions with the showers, and bathroom (thrown room) and such…..Sorry, but this is something to be seen!!!
On another note, I’ve pretty much decided on my first trip which will take place at the end of September. I’ll be going to Munich for Octoberfest for 4 nights followed by a stop in Strassburg, then on to Amsterdam for 3 days or so, then the train to London for like 5 days. If you’re up for it, you’re welcome to try and coordinate with me so we can see some of the things that the world has to offer!!! I am already pumped and counting down the days til that first beer in Dubai before I begin my trek!
I hope that everyone is doing well and had a great 4th!!
My journey south began last Thursday at about 2am, when I went to take a shower. That night marked the first time since the Kuwait hotel that I was able to actually sleep on a mattress. I tell ya since this whole thing began, it amazes me the little things that become important, things that you would’ve otherwise overlooked and not thought much of. Last Wednesday my overlooked item was a mattress. It had been a whole 16 days since my last time on a mattress, and I was soooo thankful even though I only slept on it for 3 hours. Anyhow, the travel folks picked me up at 2:45 am and we headed to the Pax terminal. Me and the person whom I will spend the most time with over the next year, Cassandra (pictured above), piled up all our stuff and got it palletized, which is the military’s way of checking baggage. You go out to the flight line and put your bags on the palet at which point baggage handlers proceed to strategically place your stuff on the palet. In Cassandra’s case, the handlers had their work cut out for them with having to place about 8 pieces of stuff, including a TV. You see Cassandra is queen of comfort, and as long as she has that, she is ready to go to work! I had the best time watching military jets take off going out into the distance, watching the day start around 4am. I tell ya there hasn’t been an overcast morning here yet, each day is beautiful and totally peaceful!
We made our way on to the dash plane about 5am which is the equivalent of a commuter jet, only it was painted in its signature military gray. The flight down to Kandahar took about 1hr and 20 minutes. There wasn’t much to it, just looking around at all the different types of landscape, from mountains to desert. We landed about 6:30am and proceeded to the Palace that is the Fluor compound in Kandahar. I must say that all the folks in Kandahar have an easy assignment when it comes to living conditions!! Their compound is new, they share a room with one other dude, the A/C actually works, all the amenities that you could ask for! We stayed in Kandahar for 2.5 days. We left out at about 6:30 Saturday night after having a really nice cookout for the 4th of July at the compound! We had chicken, potato salad, potato chips, ribs, rolls…you name it we had it, except for the all important 4th staple…COLD BEER!! I tell ya, that if I could have just one cold frosty cerveza, I’d be a happy man. I can’t forget to say that Kandahar may have one of the nicest gyms I’ve been to in a while. It rivals most Lifetime fitness’!!
Anyhow, once we got to the Pax (passenger) terminal, we made our way in and scanned all our stuff…weird to me, but yeah we did. Once all our stuff was palletized, we sat around for about 30 minutes, when we boarded a bus that took us out to a C130 that was waiting on us. This was 2nd experience flying in a military big boy plane! This time it was much different. What you sat in was like a mesh for your back, and then it was a type of nylon that supported your seat….NOT COMFORTABLE!!! Luckily the flight to Leatherneck wasn’t long! We landed about 10pm after a war zone landing; however, nothing like the take off from DC that started my whole journey. It was actually pretty fun! Almost like a rollercoaster of sorts. I got to my newest cot about 11pm and got right to bed in what was a really nice cot! I’ve slept on this cot for what will be 3 nights and it’s almost as if I’m sleeping on a super plush mattress complete with a feather mattress pad….even though I haven’t ever slept on one! Camp Leatherneck, LTN, is actually very convenient having everything I need in a city block, office, latrine, shower, PX (store) and the dining facility. The past two days have been pretty hot with 111 and 125, respectively. It sure doesn’t seem this hot, but I guess that it’s due to the dry, desert that surrounds us! Other than that, the food here isn’t all that great although I do somehow eat the most well rounded meals that I ever have on a consistent basis!
Many of you have asked about the food and up until now I would say that it has far exceeded my expectations with all the variety you get, not to mention you pick how much you want. Well, Camp LTN isn’t like this in that the variety just isn’t there. We are just too remote to have the variety that Bagram or Kandahar has, but I tell you that it won’t be too long before they do! I would bet after looking at our schedule, we have about as much variety by Christmas. Work has gotten off to a great start and I’m soo encouraged by Cassandra’s strong project mgmt stills coupled with her schedule background, that I can’t wait to get my day started, knowing that we will be making a daily impact in getting our shit together, and making these Marines more comfortable and able to enjoy their free time while having to be so far from home, fighting for us! Next week, I’ll have a brief update on my living conditions with the showers, and bathroom (thrown room) and such…..Sorry, but this is something to be seen!!!
On another note, I’ve pretty much decided on my first trip which will take place at the end of September. I’ll be going to Munich for Octoberfest for 4 nights followed by a stop in Strassburg, then on to Amsterdam for 3 days or so, then the train to London for like 5 days. If you’re up for it, you’re welcome to try and coordinate with me so we can see some of the things that the world has to offer!!! I am already pumped and counting down the days til that first beer in Dubai before I begin my trek!
I hope that everyone is doing well and had a great 4th!!
As always, such a joy to read about your experience... What an amazing journey you are on!!! And Munich for Octoberfest?? I've has the joy of experiencing that myself. Prepare your liver......
ReplyDeleteWay to completely violate OPSEC and expose everyone over there. You just told the enemy everything they need to know about distances between destinations, how the military checks people in and transports them, and details, details, details. And with pictures! Good one. Stay classy.
ReplyDelete