Mismatch

I have been back in the States for the last 3 weeks and I really am loving it. My fiance. Friends and family that are right around the corner, not thousands of miles and hours away. Internet that works and is cheap. Cell phones and reliable connectivity. Choices when it comes to TV, and none of those annoying AFN commercials.

After being home for a little while I can see how so many service members returning from a war zone often feel so detached (I think it affects me far less as my deployment, which was at main FOB, it was at a major FOB, that never got attacked. So other than the distant explosions and gunfire, helicopters coming in and out at all times, the occasional desperate plea for blood donor's as a serious casualty came in, and the daily update of SIGACTS (SIGnificant ACTionS) in our AOR (Area of Responsibility) the war wasn't as real as it could be compared to the Joe in the truly remote FOB's. Heck I only wore my body armor 5-6 times the entire time I was there and only put my magazine in my weapon 3 times.). Every day in a war zone there is a sense of impending danger and there is never any question that there is a war going on (any significant thing I did was predicated in making sure that the Soldiers out there were not impacted or hindered in any way by things we did, and we would expend all efforts to make sure that they always had secure communications available).

But you get home and suddenly you are back in the minutia of everyday civilian life (this is sharper for those of in the Guard and Reserve, since they make it a point to transition us out as quickly as possible. The Active Duty guys are still in that regimented military environment that eases the transition). Most of the people around you have no understanding of the what it means to be in a war zone, and most seem blissfully ignorant of the events that happen in Afghanistan (maybe they are vaguely aware of significant events like large attacks and maybe vaguely aware of the current number of casualties). Because of the way that I get my news I hear most of the major events but I cannot imagine that everyone's news-feeds are tailored like mine are. And luckily I am not a person who finds danger exciting (I find it more of something to be endured, and to be removed ASAP).

While it is barely a twinge for me (easily assuaged by all the conveniences at the top of the post. It really helps that I am a homebody who really loves being at home.) I can really see why a lot of my fellow vet's (wow, first time I have referred to myself as a vet) have trouble readjusting.

Home

I got back on the 7th!  After a brief visit to demob down in MS (it was only 3-4 days, quite impressive).  The real question is, who looks happier in this picture, me or my fiance?

6 months, 15,000 miles.  I went from 4 ribbons to 9 (added an ARCOM (Army Commendation) and NATO Medal, as well as an Afghan Campaign Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, and an Army Reserve Medal).  Plus I am officially no longer a "slick sleeve" (term for anyone without a SSI-FWTS (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, Former War Time Service) on your right shoulder).

My unit deployed with 175 people and we came back with 175 people with no injuries.  We ran operations in Zabul, with one American Battalion, 2 Romanian Battalions, an ADT (Agricultural Development Team) and a PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team).

Back to work in another 2 weeks.  Figured I would take a full 4 weeks off.

Red Moon

One of the few advantages of being out here in the boonies of Afghanistan is that it is near ideal for looking at the sky. My base operates in a blackout mode in the evenings, so there is minimal light pollution. When the Moon is not there the majesty of the night sky are impressive ("My God, the sky, it's full of stars!"). As a night shift worker I am pretty in touch with the moon (I often walk around 3 weeks of 4 without any light, operating by the light of the moon, at least when it is there) so last night when I walked outside I immediately wondered where the heck my night light was.  Then I remember we were schedules for a Lunar Eclipse and found the moon.

It actually turned red!!!

So cool.

Gotta find the cool moments in even the less than ideal conditions...

Fair disclosure, I picked these pictures off my unit's PAO drive.  The pics are often aggregated there.

Crawling

It is amazing how in the real world that time seems to fly by.  I know that normally I find myself turning around and being amazed that yet again it was a drill weekend (a good way to mark the month since that used to my definition of a busy week... doing my normal job, heading off to packed drill weekends and then heading into work on Monday.  That was all before I encountered the 12 hours, 7 days a week schedule). 

We are scheduled to return from our deployment early.  We kind of lucked out, in that the Army decided to replace us early (now I know what a placeholder feels like).  We are already deep into planning for the RIP (Relief In Place), pretty much we have almost been doing that preparation since we conducted out TOA (Transfer Of Authority) and took this place over.  I know that lots of us already have the visions of our reunions dancing around in heads, it serves as a wonderful motivator. 

We all have a countdown somewhere in proximity to us (most of us use a computer program, some clever people even have a drawing with a number of Lobsters (we have it every Fiday), one each for the remaining weeks).  I am already planning my downtime after deployment (I envision taking 2-3 weeks off).  Or as a I have described it, #OccupyMyCouch. 

Again I will not go into specifics, as it is possible for the bad guys to utilize that information to time their attacks to take advantage of of the inevitable turbulance that occurs when one group replaces another.

I can already visualize finally seeing my fiance, family and friends again (and maybe drinking that celebratory beer).

Thankful

Even over here, in the poor embattled dump that is this corner of Asia, I am am still a thankful man.  I am thankful that thus far no one in my unit has been killed or injured.  That I will be heading home soon. That my fiance, family and friends are so supportive of me while I am here.

I definitely am thankful for technology.  I know that life would be far more stressful for me if it wasn't for email, VOIP (thanks Google for the free phone calls!!) and Skype (thanks to you for the free video calls!!).  Being this far away from everything (and pretty much everyone) would have been far more depressing.

I am definitely thankful for Sandy, the local feral cat who has made my lonely night shift far more tolerable.  She often wanders in, nudges my leg and falls asleep near me.

I have been lucky enough to be born in the best country in the world, have awesome parents, siblings and a beautiful Fiance.  I really like my job (yep, even the Army one on occasion) and get paid well to do it.  I truly am a lucky and thankful guy. 

Veteran's Day

I think this will be the first Veteran's Day where I finally deserve the label.  I joined 6.5 years ago and only now that I am on this deployment do I feel right applying that label to myself. And even then I know that my service is different.  My battlefield is sitting at my desk, making sure that the Soldiers get the best possible support that they can get.  There isn't the sleep deprivation, crappy conditions that other, more front-line military personnel encounter.  I have same day laundry service, a warm 2 person bedroom, Internet access and (surprisingly) good food.

Though unlike y'all back in the States, Veteran's is just another day for those of us over here. We are doing a 11.11 mile team relay (which I am not doing, couldn't get a team together and I am not running another 10+ miles around this base) but that is about all.  The pace of operations doesn't slack and unless it is a scheduled downtime there is no time off to mark the holiday.  No special meal deals for Veterans over here, just the same old chow.  I know next year it will maybe mean a bit more than just another day off, but this time around it is just another day to endure before we head home.

Deployment is a Blur...

Working 12 hours a day (all through the night) 7 days a week makes everything a blur. The weeks are represented by the significant events (either personal, work or significant events).

Like the time that insurgents ran a VBIED against one of the nearby FOBs, big enough that even though the site is more than 2 miles away it sounded like it was hitting my own FOB (no one was killed in that attack).

Or the fact that my Brothers Wife finally delivered my new niece (I have 4 brothers, we are not quite sure how to deal with a little girl).

But the most notable memories are the ones where I head outside the wire.So far I have been have outside the wire twice with our ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces, that includes their Army, Border Patrol, and Police). They are advised mostly by the Romanians (which makes sense since their technology level and tactics are better suited to Russian styles and technology) via the OMLT system.  I visited the main Army base for the province, seeing how their maintainence works and in general meeting their personnel.

The second trip was more important for me, as we headed to Alexander's Castle (according to local lore the Castle was built by Alexander the Great.  While that claim is uncertain and unvalidated, it is a key point for the city of Qalat and has been for centuries (for the British, the Russians and now to a latter degree American, though we have no personnel stationed here). We got to meet the Communication Company that is located at the Castle and is the center hub for ANA communications in the region.  I was struck by how professional and dedicated to serving their country, they really were proud to serve the Afghan people and of their accomplishments to date. We had tea (so makes one very Afghan experience) and then also took in the sights at the Castle (the views were awesome, the commanding views makes it very clear why this is such a key terrain point. While taking in the view I also got another very Afghan experience, as we saw an IED go off in the distance.

Outside of that trip my time passes by in dribs and drabs.  Working out, sleeping, the weekly Lobster and Steak meal..  I have watched more TV than I have ever watched during my time here, as I work I often have a show running in the background.

In some ways technology is great as it allows you to be aware of everything that is happening back home, but it also can leave you frustrated since you can so easily see everything and yet know that it is so far away....