Promotion to LT!

I was promoted on 27 Dec from LTJG to LT. I willl (0r my wife will) enjoy the extra money. I was promoted 4 days early because am leaving tomorrow for a 3 week Mission and will be in the middle of no where. The ceremony was short and I was relieved to get it over with. I attempted to skip anyone gathering for this occasion. i really wanted my wife to pin me, so I felt a ceremony wasn't necessary.

Trip to Herat, Shindand, and BGM (West/Northwest Afghanistan) Nov/Dec 2011

The transit system in Afghanistan has taught me a few valuable lessons: 1. REMAIN PATIENT, 2. BE FLEXIBLE, and 3. EXPECT the WORST. My flight from Kabul to Herat was delyed 3 days and I spent that time in transient billeting in the airport. Ever have to sit around on a terminal for you flight? It was kinda like that for 3 days. I traveled with my new friend Ahamad Habibi, my linguist. Without him I could not get any work done. The flights back to Kabul had similar delays with a few helos and covoys to meet the plane back and forth a few times. All in a days work!

The Canadians flew me to Herat! They are everywhere! I wasn't so sure about their old cargo plane though. I saw duct tape on the wing.  the Spanish AirForce flew me back to Kabul.

I spent approximatey 15 days flying around Afghanistan and riding through the mountains. It is really beautiful here, just a little dusty/rocky and smoggy.  :) I had to take several helos to the Northern areas due to some "minor traffic issues" on the Northern Service Road. I didn't min at all. Sadly, all I could think about was Jackie when I was on the Helo. She would have loved to see the mountains and sunset through the clouds. (inhale/exhale).  She is always with me.

I ate a few Afghan lunches while I was in Herat. To refuse would have been rude. Some good, some horrible, but overall the experience was amazing. I met some wonderful people, made new friends, and even met up with some older friends. I seem to know someone in every part of Afghanistan. 

The food is ver good, and I live sleeping on floors! I will appreciate a bed much more when I get back to Kabul. I had a great time here and helped "find" a few dollars "underneath" the pillows. I am ready to get back to Kabul to write about 50 TPS reports and prep for my next trip in 2 weeks. 

Mustach Brigade! Waiting in line for some hot cocoa at the airport.  May be the last STACH photo.

Leaving Kabul to Herat

canadians are EVERYWHERE!

Ahamad relaxing on the plane

Standup, Hook up, Shuffle to the Door!

Afghan Inspectors

Camp Stone

Inspection Team meeting with Brigade General

Bank Inspection

Lunch at Afghan Training Center.

Recruits getting new gear

DEATH FROM ABOVE!

Black hawk scenic tour.... ALL ABOARD!

No Chinese cuts!

Front seat in the hewy!

Afghan team coming along for the ride

Shadow from helo

Afghan from Above

First dip!!!!!

In an Afghan store

More grub....

On the flight line

The Stach and a little more....

I struggle from time to time with missing my family.  To help alleviate this pain, I decided to grow a mustach. That and a mustach helps with Afghan relations. I didn't plan on taking it this far, but a few Afghans have called me a "hero," and that is all the encouragment I needed to go all the way. Now I have a 3 week project that annoys me and encourages my resolve every minute. I have been busy with developing a curriculum in the finance school and preparing for a long cross country trip to inspect several Afghan financial operations. I have come to love my job and all of its opportunities. Not many people can say they helped develop the retirement pension fund for an entire Service. I hope to go throughout sooner than later so I can pay visits to the many firends I have scattered around this war torn country. 

On my way out for a mission to Eastern Kabul.

This is Gator Alley... The "main" strip on Camp eggers, Laundry, Food, work, etc...

Finance School Graduation. None of the Afghan students had any family to see this great occasion. I was slightly perplexed at seeing this. All I could think about was "Jackie would KILL me if I didn't send her an invite to a graduation."

Stash Day 3!

Our Goat. He/she lived a wonderful FULL circle of life.

Governmental grounds... I had to verify they had cows.... for taxes of course....

Bathrooms behind me..... they forgot the doors... and running water..... awww hell, I just need a hole!

Thanks for the Reno glasses babe! I am a star here on Camp now. My new nickname is Reno!!!

Stash 1-2 weeks.... I look like a porn star!!!!

On Thanksgiving, NBC was here filming... I couldn't squeeze on that vehicle. Yes, there is a vehicle that all those people are standing on.

First month in Afghanistan...

I have a hodge podge of pictures below. I must say my Mission so far has been extremely rewarding. I have a heated room FULL of great guys. I have good food three times a day. I even have cable TV in my office. The efforts here from all the NATO countries are amazing.  I work in the finance reform office. I conduct pay, taxes, and contract audits all over the country. I have to work with the Afghan National Army and the Afghan Government to improve the financal system across the country. This means I travel all the time. I am on missions everyday and I spend half my time all across the country. My time here is going by fast and I have developed a great routine. Eat, work, gym, work, sleep.  Everyday is a bit of the same. I start Trig in Janualry so I will have to find out where to fit that in my schedule. I work atleast 12 hours a day. It gets exhausting... and from time to time to just sleep right after work to refuel. There is  weekly market an Afghan vendors come on the base to sell various junk. Glasses, wathes, jewerly, rugs, knives, movies, guns, pottery...etc... I am only interested in the 1800 English Muskets (pics below). I am still trying to find out if they are real. If I can verify they are real  I will buy atleast two of them.  I can use the internet at work, and wait in line for a few hours at night to contact my family. I have been gone for 2 months already (1 month of training), and I will be home in less than 6 months! I have much work to do, so I hope I can make signficant progress in the next 6 months. I am also helping improve a financial curriculum for the afghan officers. A process that is extrememly challenging. I work with the French military is this regard. I supply all the hard work, and they supply the cheese. An even swap in my books. 

 I miss my family more and more everyday, but our bond also strengthens everyday. I am truely lucky to have such a supportive family. I see other guys here who struggle back home and I feel so bad for them. The weather here is fair. Not too cold yet, but the air quality is horrble. Lots of construction, dust, and smog from trash burning. I have a medical assessment letter about the air quality for the VA since most people leave here with chronic respiratory conditions. Many people wear masks all day. I have recently come down with my second upper respiratory illness. Luckily I am off traveling to other parts of the country and I hope the air quality is improved.

Bomb shelter outside my building. We have these everywhere.

Weekly "Bzaar"

Old English Muskets

Crystal ya'll!!! Living the dream!

Shiiping containers where I live. 

The Canadians are EVERYWHERE!

Green Bean coffee shop

Afghan road... Paved very well when compared to most roads.

My humble quarters...

General Caldwell

My office

Minister of Defense - Wardak

My wall of kiddos art!

Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan

The smoggy Kabul air. Where is the sun?

Bomb shelter outisde my office. We 

Weekly Bazaar