Boots on Ground!

Finally here!!!! Months and months of planning, moving out of my house, driving and flying across the country and the world, training, and saying goodbyes (multiple times).  I was welcomed to Afghanistan by waiting on the curb of the Kabul International Airport for 12 hours in the sun!!!! Not too bad because I have already been awkake for nearly 36 hours... so waiting around is exactly what I need. "Embrace the Suck!" I love these pointless phrases.... but they seem to make everything right....weird. Well lots of confusion here and after I arrived at Camp Eggers as well. It appears I am going to be working to modernize the Afghan Finance System. Specifically how the Army gets paid. Which means I will travel all over Afghan.... ALL THE TIME! Should make the time pass by quickly.

I believe this is hour 8 of waiting curbside!!! 

And our saviors arrive....

My first cup of chi tea from an Afghan Colonel... yummmyyy!!!

US Embassy Kabul

Traffic jam. Here I am in a SUV, Crazy traffic, no cops, no lines for order.... it is a free for all!!!

NMH Kabul Militray Hospital

US Navy Corpsman training the AFGHAN Medic Course

3 Afghan women in the class on the right. Amazing!

More training

Are we there yet?

I have officially been away from my girls for over a month now (with the exception of my one night of passion with Jacquelene at Fort Jackson). I am now leaving Fort Jackson. We had two bikers escort the buses to the Columbia Airport. Here we had a suprise.... nearly 100 volunteers that consisted of vets, widowed spouses and other support groups at the terminal to give us a Heros send off. I was touched by this jesture.  Being in this war for nearly 10 years now, most Americans forget. If its not in the media, it seems to be out of mind. This reminded me that there still are plenty of people who truely appreciate what we are sacraficing. On another note: Kuwait is HOT! The temperatures finally broke 110 on our arrival. A sign that fall is coming! Here we do more of the same..... SIT AROUND AND WAIT! I had a hard time getting my clocks adjusted. My flight from Fort Jackson was no help either. I picked a seat right in front of the big screen t.v., to find out the t.v. is broken. I did have a lame layover in Germany in some airport that was smaller then my house. I did meet the dude who put his junk in the apple pie from American Pie. Now I am anxious and calling Jackie 3 times a day. I know my communication ability will soon decrease.

Our Biker's escort. So country.... but soo cool!

Our suprise in the terminal....free Pizza!!!!

The line of "hugs and shakes" on the way to the plane leaving the US. Extemely emotional for me. All I could do is think about my girls... I love them soo much.

Our bus!

Leaving on a jet plane was sung by all.... to cover up for our anxiety. Excited and worried at the same time. 

Is this against FCC regulations?

German layover.... lame!

I did mention the sweet seat I scored in front of this TV right???

Pie guy and gal! This is at the Kuwait USO.

My humble quarters in Kuwait. I spent about 4 days here...

All my gear to live for 9 months...My design at the bottom is very creative!

Terminal at Ali Al Salem leaving Kuwait to Afghanistan

Loading our bags onto palets for the flight. If I never daisy chain another C-bag again I will be forever peacefull.

Back of the C-117 to Kabul.... 

Plenty of leg room. See the next photo to see my hook up...

In the cockpit of the C-117. Pete (my wife's friends husband) was the pilot by pure chance. I  found out he was the pilot and chilled in the cockpit the entire time. Amazing to see the skyline, takeoff ans landing in the cockpit. An amazing experience. I sat here while all the other froze their ass off in the loading area..... Sweet!!!!

Army Training... HOAHHHHH!!!!!

After I said the hardest goodbye in my life. I traveled to Port Hueneme, California for some 

administrative review that lasted 1 week. I did enjoy (mildly) Inn and Out Burger in Ventura. Then on to Fort Jackson, SC. The Army calls this base "Relaxing Jackson." And relax I did! I sat in a class room or on a firing range all day. The training was good and the Army instructors did their best despite the fact that they are in the Army. I learned a few words/phrases that I hope to never repeat. A few are as follows: Hoooahhhhhhh, tracking, easy day, too easy, embrace the suck, and freaking. These are just a few words that are used as verbs, nouns, and adjectives at the same time and ALL the time by the Army Cadre. Only in the Army! I was retaught basic combat fundamentals from my five year deployment break to include; land navigation, NBC warefare, weapons training, convoy operations, counter insurgency tactics, and urban warefare training.  This was a good 3 weeks, and I hope I never have to do it gain. Jackie came to visit me while I was at Fort Jackson. I did have to say good bye again, but this good bye was peaceful. As I know she will manage our family perfectly. I was lucky to get to see my beautiful wife for one last night. I am getting anxious. I am ready to get into Country so I can begin and mission and make it back home to my family.

GAS GAS GAS!!! and HOOK Em HORNs!!!

Weapons similator. very cool and very helpful.

Here is displays your shot spread and the instructors can tell why your shooting messed up. Not me  of course!!!

The worst part about shooting on the range for 4 hours is picking up brass casings for 8 hours. The Amry requires 90% of all brass cassings to be returned before we can leave the range. Ralaxing at Jackson!!!

Thouht I would blow this up for my brother! Hooooahhhhh!!! 300 M group and zero! Blew that heart out suckaaaa!!!!

Jacquelene's one night stand. Yes yes.... she is smoking!!!!

That ice anchor is NOT made of Vodka Jacquelene. But she had to see for herself.

Goodbye.... yet again.... :(

9 Months until I will see that beautiful lady again. 

Lanf navigation and map reading....

Butta Butta jam!!!!

IED instruction.... in laymen's term.... PRAY!!!

My Navy IA Company.

On my way to Fort Jackson,

Gear issue begins.... Not fun at all!

Did I mention it was raining all morning as we stood outside and verified our gear issue was correct. So I dumped 4 C-Bags on the deck and soaked all my gear. It really didn't make much sence for us to dump our gear inside. Then we would have dry gear. That is "too easy."

I wear all this on my tourso. Yes... this all fits together in a puzzle fashion. It weighs over 40lbs as well.

It took 2 hours for instruction on how to inset these pads. Going ahead would not be appropiate. That would not be "tracking" with the group.... Hoaaah!!!