Methodical Boredom…

24JAN10 – Mon

Here I sit in my plywood hut at COB Home drinking a St. Pauli N.A. and ready to make a rambling recap of the past ten days. The first week (15JAN-21JAN) was long but easy to sum up due to the daily monotony. The last three days are hard to even feel like explaining since I had little time for notes: my movement and settling into COB Home with my new platoon.

As shown in my previous post, "Notes and Quotes", I began to have a surplus of time sitting at the computer researching various things and trying to find information that could help me with my time as platoon leader. Other than a brief property management class that I took with the help of the S-4 shop and reading on the platoonleader.army.mil forums, there was very little I could do until getting to COB Home.

So along the way I became a master in the art of self-centered research.

This included checking out how my GI Bill entitlements will work, looking at different master's degree programs, drawing out the next 10 years of my life (no really, I did get this bored), and e-mailing my branch manager to see about the possibility of getting special schools when I get back from theater..

None of those things really got me anywhere, but when will I really have time for that kind of research for THAT many hours a day in the future?

Not often. So all is fine in the universe.

Anyway, I eventually got away from spending time at the BN HQ and got to going to the gym during the day. Basically, I just kept on a different schedule during the day than LT Bro just so I wouldn't have to sit in the office for hours. In doing so, I also was able to check out more of the base and take it in for what it is, and for what it will never be again.

The roads will no longer be called "Heidelberg St.", "Arizona Rd.", or "Victory Blvd.". There won't be reflective belts everywhere at night and soldiers jogging in PTs during the day. There won't be daily helicopter passes. There won't be tons of up-armored GMC, Ford, and Dodge Trucks driven by KBR contractors. There won't be loudspeaker announcements about controlled ordnance disposals, "There will be a controlled detonation in 15 minutes. I say again, there will be a controlled detonation in 15 minutes."

I digress.

I also feel this post has gotten long enough for now and pretty pictures should help make it better… so more on the movement here, arrival, and first impressions tomorrow. Or when I get to it. Maybe. Just kidding, I really will write about it eventually. Or not? The end.

 

 

    

Notes and Quotes

Friday

In the BN Ops room again. Today is a day of random research. This includes, reading "The 4-Hour Body", various military websites, and training material. My written notes have much, much more crap.

4HB

First off, I really recommend this book. I first read Tim Ferriss's "The 4-Hour Workweek" while at SBOLC and loved it. This book makes points about health and exercise I never realized. His narrative style is also very informal, humorous, and interesting.

While I'm deployed I plan on getting in good shape, so this book was a good supplement to the professional reading (Army stuff) I do on a regular basis. More "me" reading.

What he has to say about eating is very insightful (i.e. showing how much more efficient your metabolism is if you eat within 30 minutes of waking) and other practices are just plain strange yet make sense (how taking cold exposure increases your standing body heat, therefore causing you to lose fat). Here's a little bit about exercise I found cool:

-Kettlebell swing - shown to be extremely effective in losing weight; gaining muscle. Do at least 75 reps. Note: I did this the next morning, and yes it is an ass-kicker.

-Two most effective ab exercises – 1) Myotatic Crunch. Stretches out and involves all of core. 2)Breathing exercise (Tim calls it the Cat Vomit). Involves important horizontal muscle in the abdomen otherwise generally neglected (the muscle that hurts when you laugh really hard).

-Principles of a good workout: One set-to-failure of each exercise. 5secsup/5secsdown cadence. Only 2-10 exercises per workout (at least one multi-joint, one pulling, one pressing, one leg).

Some cool quotes:

"Somewhere along the line, we seem to have confused comfort with happiness." – Dean Karnazes, ultra marathoner who did a marathon in each of the 50 states in 50 consecutive days

"Often the less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of." – Mark Twain

"It is vain to do with more what can be done with less." –William of Occam

"It is the lieutenant's privilege to live close to his men, to be their example in conduct, courage, and in devotion to duty. He is in position to learn them intimately, to help them when in trouble, often to keep them out of trouble. No matter how young he may be nor how old and hard and boild his men, he must become their counselor, their leader, their friend, their old man." –Dwight Eisenhower

Barriers to Situational Awareness:

These are from some of my training. Despite the fact that the context of these things were for POW's, I feel that they apply to soldiers who are deployed as well:

-Stress, Denial, Past Experience, Complacency, Insufficient Communication, Task Overload, Health, Haste, Group-think

I'm pretty sure one could point to one of these as the cause of any problem encountered in a unit.

http://www.fourhourbody.com/

Passing Time: Recap to Iraq

Thursday

Written while passing time in the HQ upon initial arrival:

After a long trip yesterday, I am here in Iraq. I had to be up at 0315 for a 0430 show time at the Space-R (required) tent. Hours later I was in the air on the C-130 (somehow I was able to sleep for about half the flight even as I sat knee-to-knee and hip-to-hip with other passengers). Not really anything of note happened that morning until the flight… just a boring, limbo-like wait with all of the other transients.

When I touched ground, I got outside the terminal and waited for about an hour before taking it into my own hands to make contact for someone to pick me up. I felt like the kid whose parents forgot to come get him from school. It was a bit disheartening but it matched my prior "welcomes" in the Army—whether at BOLC or with my initial entry to the unit back in AZ. So I can't really say I was that surprised.

Eventually SGT R picked me up and brought me to LT Bro's CHU (Centralized Housing Unit) where I racked-out for a good 3 hours, post Taco Bell coma.

LT Bro came in from work at around 1700 and we talked about the unit and his experiences for about an hour or so and grabbed some chow, came back to the CHU, and got to bed nice and early. LT Bro is a good guy, expressive about his opinions, and helpful with getting me acclimated. It's nice to have a peer to help me settle in. Although I won't work with him much directly (he is the BMO, Battalion Maintenance Officer), it's good to know I have someone close in rank that I can relate to.

Spoke with the BN commander for a few minutes as will be shown in some of the notes to follow:

SFC I and CPT DD: Battalion Vets

LT Glitz XO and the other PL is LT Spurs (both WP grads, same year-group)

Key sites in C Co.

Advice:

-Inventories, meet troops (many young), learn system, understand signal flow. Stresses LTs are not operators. Be open, honest with soldiers. Listen to NCO's but ask questions.

-Embrace Additional Duties: Supply, OPS, Maint, even Voting

Past problems in C Co.

    -Behavioral health: lost SGT H before leaving from suicide

    -Spouses: some aren't taking good care, separated (still require BAH)

C Co is diverse and has all sig systems but JNN (SSS instead, described as JNN on steroids).

Young NCO's have a lot on their shoulders from being promoted early.

BN had 13 months dwell time before this deployment, after a 15 month deployment. Unit is "on tap" to redeploy back or to AFG a year from return.

COL Pet Peeve: "Last time"

First 3 mos. Back home

    -honeymoon phase, eventually going to go down-hill a bit. Watch for domestic problems and DUI's

After asking my major, LTC mentions a program through the Pentagon allowing for an internship with the Joint Chiefs along with attending Georgetown. Post Command. Look into for later.

Don't take service from someone without justification.

Individuals to seek advice from: CW4 D, CPT T, CPT Hern and H. SGM.

When in doubt, ask self is it immoral, illegal, or fattening.

 

Anyway, it's been interesting settling in here at our HQ home. The meeting with LTC Dug was about thirty minutes long and it felt productive. He has a laid-back demeanor but seems very goal oriented. A good note for me was that he had nothing but good things to say about my company and its leadership.

Walking around and talking with LT Bro has been cool as well—I sat with him after chow and watch SPC Fisherman try his luck at one of the many man-made lakes here. Even got offered a nice cigar by SFC Laugh, one of the NCOs at LT Bro's shop.

On another random note, I tried a "Rip-It"—a cheaper-than-dirt energy drink this is common down range—and believe I have found my new "Sugar Free Rockstar", my crack of choice. That is until I can somehow get it sent to me!

Since the subject of randomness came up, I'll add a few strange or interesting sights and discussions of the past few days. Scatterloot.

-SGT Littleguy – Very cool and young SGT who has seen a lot of combat and only has use of one lung! Met him while we drew equipment back at Camp B. Had lunch with him afterwards and he seems to be one of those rare "good guy" (read not battle-hardened) experienced NCO's. He has a good life outlook and had nothing but good things to say about his wife back home. Also he was very, very respectful and that's a plus in a world where my rank is about as good as a Private's in the eyes of many.

-Movement back to Camp A – Camels, camels, everywhere. Even less than 10 meters from the road.

-The flight here – Strange to see more civilians than military on board. LT Bro tells me civilians outnumber military in Iraq 2-to-1.

-After landing at the AF terminal – What they call "Third-Country Nationals" wielding AK's as security guards. Many from Uganda/random African countries. They also guard the DFAC, PX, etc.

-"Hummingbird" – LT Bro and I witnessed some large bird that was actually flying in place to try to snatched prey from the water. I had no clue larger birds like that could do that.

-Huachuca-blimps – A common sight back in AZ is the AF weather balloon that can be seen all throughout town. There was also one at Camp A and here. Pretty cool seeing something that's become common to me in a foreign country.

-CHU's. Overall the places are small but have AC and internet access (if you buy it). Also indoor showers and latrines are right close. We'll see how COB Home CHU's compare. If I could get my own—without a roommate like LT Bro—I will be able to make the 10 x 12 space (or whatever it is) very comfortable. The huge cement walls surrounding these things would ease my mom's mind a bit.

-The Palace – The one thing that makes this all very imperial is seeing all this old Saddam-era architecture. I wonder often what the Iraqi's will do to this place when we hand it over. The palace—and even my unit's HQ—are in ornate buildings with marble, decorations, lakes, and palm trees. Note: LT Bro later brought me by the other side of the palace and the old bridge leading to it is still decimated from 2003 when we took it out. Very wicked looking.

-HQ – As I said, the building is very ornate, but it's hilarious to see the building juxtaposed with sterile looking office additions. The work stations are high-speed and they have a constant monitor of the networks within out BN AO. LT Bro says he's jealous I'll be further from the flagpole at COB Home, because the HQ is full of officers CPT and above.

-Training – The HEAT training back at Camp B was fun and thank God for it because I never would have been able to figure out my IOTV (tactical vest) on my own for the flight up here. One of the LTC's helped me get it squared away before we got spun around in an MRAP. When I got here the S2 shop also found out I wasn't properly handled back in AZ for finishing some training, so I've spent some time working on that since I got here.

Well that Scatterloot will do for now. Going to try to make calls back home and relax later today. For now I'm just going to hang out with LT Bro in the Ops room and learn a little.

Conversations from the USO

1130 am Monday

Just spoke with my PSG from the USO here in Camp B. Contrasted with the hour-long conversation I had just had with a talkative and intellectual USO rep/Vietnam Vet named Malcom M, it felt like I was going 1,000 miles an hour with this guy. This was a good—and terrifying—feeling thing.

The above notes (not replicated for OPSEC) are the scribbles I was able to take while probing for some info. I was calling on a NIPR line, so there was only so much to be said. Although he sounds like a confident NCO it is a little unsettling and intimidating that our conversation was in such stride. This may be me wanting things to be more glamorous than they are in reality—probably due to conditioning from ROTC about first contact with your PSG being so important and vital. I'm sure when I meet in person with him it will be better, but unfortunately he goes on R & R tomorrow.

This detail also is an additional obstacle because I will not be getting to my unit without my commander (who is also on R &R) or my PSG. I will be left very much exposed as the rookie that I am in front of my soldiers. Note: I would find out later that my commander understood this risk and delayed my movement to my unit until the CO was soon to return.

SFC I mentioned I would be exposed to a high op-tempo and a lot of briefings and SLIDES. Oh, God how I dislike military measurement of product by slideshows. Should be a joy!

The one fortunate thing is I believe my entrance will be more gradual. I gotta go to lunch/back to finishing training… The IED training was depressing this morning so I hope getting rolled around in an MRAP will make my day.

marsonmg@yahoo.com : Email for Malcom M. Gave me the Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant. The book is in excellent condition and is leather-bound and all. He told me that I should read it and could pass it on as he did. Guess I have my first little story-relic from my deployment. After our long conversation about the Civil War, Vietnam, Iraq, and each other's backgrounds (his being more interesting than mine), I was humbled by his departing comment, "You carry yourself very well, lieutenant."

Transient in Kuwait

I knew it would be difficult to write here while on my tripe, but the lack of sleep I gave myself beforehand cemented my inability. Most of yesterday was a surreal dream. After over 24 hours of travel, I made it here to camp in Kuwait. I write from my cot.

The night of the 6^th I made my frantic final preparations and—thanks to being anxious and a 3 am start time—got no sleep before drawing my weapon and getting driven to Tuscon. Who heard of a 6:30 flight!?

Anyway, it was almost all for the better because over the course of the trip I was able to sleep easily (especially from TUS to LAX and LAX to IAD). Zzzz.

When I got off the plane in VA, I was surprised to be hugged by V and greeted by Mom/Sis. We had arranged to meet but I wouldn't be certain if they could make it beyond security until after I had made it off the plane. What seemed at first like a fortunate amount of time flew by like it was only a few moments. In the two and a half hours I got to spend time with them, we did a little walking around the airport and had a nice lunch at Moe's. I regret not having my "last beer" then. Of course, there is always O'Doul's! Yum.

I had not seen V since she came to AZ with me and was so glad to have one final reminder of just how happy we are together before I left on this deployment. Everything about her makes me myself, and we're goofy for each other. I know she'll keep me cheery over the next through months as I try and conquer the monotony of deployment. Even on this transient base here in Kuwait where the comforts of fast-food, a PX, gyms, and a USO it seems somehow contricting and I know this will be the case when I touch ground in Iraq.

It was tough saying goodbye to the three girls and my mom started the waterworks on cue after she and I took a picture together. It was somewhat humorous for me and making humor out of it was the best I could do. I told them, "I'm such a celebrity. Everyone cries when I leave."

After creeping back as far back in the line as I could to delay the inevitable, I made my way towards the gate. V came to give me one last kiss and I was off. Twelve hours of airtime followed, during which time I mostly slept (see, Tried to Sleep) save for watching The Social Network.

I had made long trans-Atlantic flights several times while the family was stationed in Heidelberg, but somehow twelve hours feels much longer than the eight of so it takes to get to Germany. Guess the reasoning behind my travel also played a part in that. Luckily, I had an aisle seat and could move around a bit if I wanted.

The flight passengers on that IAD to Kuwait flight were unlike any demographic I've seen—soldiers returning from leave and tons of contractors. That sight didn't weird me out. The terminal in Kuwait City did.

After getting through security all the eye could see was Muslim garb. Even this didn't get to me until the civilian-clothed DoD rep told me to take off the patches on my uniform. I wished immediately I had flown in civies and cursed that I should have been directed to do so way back in AZ.

I got my gear and weapon and was escorted to the shadiest security guys ever. They cleared the weapon and made it to the van. The amount of security for me was near zero at this point and over the course of the thirty minutes I was about at that the whole time I was at the airport. It was a very odd way to get in to theater. I was happy to make it to the first AFB where I awaited a shuttle and slept underneath the terminal seats like a baby.

When I got here to Camp A, I finally saw a glimpse of what "down-range" looks like and as I sit here in my tent in "Tent City" I actually must go for now. I need to go meet my unit rep (LNO) to find out what I will be doing next. As usual I'm in a fog. All I know is that I'll start training at another camp in KUW.

Later a description of my first night at Tent City is due.

MON TRNG CAMP B

TUE Pick Up/Move Back to CAMP A

After Training/Equipment done, Move to Iraq

About to be driven to CAMP B for training that is to start in the morning. SGT G Aviator (named so because he told me he is going to get out of the Army, do ROTC and become an aviator) is getting the truck now. SFC G Done was able to square me away on the tentative schedule above.

After arriving at Camp B, getting a tour, and being dropped off to do my own thing for the day I took the following notes:

-0600 – 1100 Mando IED trng

-1300-1600 MET

-1600-1700 HEAT

LT GLITZ Acting C Co CMD

From the Camp B USO: Just spoke with CPT Walk for the first time since thinking I'd be assigned to Alpha. That's right since thinking I'd be assigned to Alpha. Guess I will be going to C Co now! The changes never end. Time to sign up for a computer to check out where I might be on the BN newsletter (my lone source of intel half the time).

I got to talk to V for a whole hour on the phone prior to hearing this news so I am in much better spirits. Also, I'm staying in an entire barracks-sized tent by myself tonight. Should be nice to enjoy a little privacy and get some good sleep before training tomorrow.

Quick Note: Cool USO volunteer spoke with me about Ulysses memoir. He offered to give me the book tomorrow. Meet around 1100.

Charlie Co. Heavy Signal Company.

-CMD CPT DD

-XO LT Glitz

-1SG Stt

-LOC: COB Speicher. Named after Navy Pilot who was killed in action in '91 Gulf War. Formerly Al Sahra Airfield. 170 km N of Baghdad. 11 km west of river Tigris. Two large one runways, one small. Fast food amenities, soccer stadium, PX's, shops, gym. CHU's, daily mail, etc.

-Speicher is HQ with locations spread out (in the North)

Long Trip Home, Now to Business.

Just going to post a few point from a really good post from the platoon leader forum:

Point #1: You and Your Platoon Sergeant
Point #2: You and Your Platoon
Point #3: Counseling
Point #4: Playing Well With Others
Point #5: Being With Your Soldiers
Point #6: Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Point #7: OER Support Forms
Point #8: Layouts and Property Accountability
Point #9: Systems Improvement
Point #10: You and Your Ego

Tomorrow I'll recap all of Vegas and all of the the CRAP I need to get done before I head out...