Thanksgiving has long been one of my favorite times of the year. Time off from work, spent with friends and family, enjoying the best meal of the year and watching lots of football! But living on a military base only magnifies little events, like holidays, where extra measures are taken to bring a sense of home to everyone over here.
Monday thru Wednesday I hit the gym hard and gave special attention to eating healthy. Thursday, finally, sweet Thanksgiving meal Thursday, you’re here! I was thoroughly impressed with the spread: turkey, ham, roast beef (there was literally a small cow on a cutting board, sliced to order), dressing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, collard greens, jalapeño cornbread, and cranberry sauce. A big thanks to all the DFAC workers who did such an outstanding job!!
After all that deliciousness, pumpkin pie with cool whip and vanilla ice cream was the only possible improvement. Yes, we have Baskin-Robbins ice cream available every lunch and dinner, for free!
After a semi-productive afternoon at the office, much of which involved digesting my 3,500 calorie lunch, it was dinner time. I typically forego dinner and go to the gym instead. Thanksgiving only comes around once a year, so I figured I’d take full advantage. Besides, many coworkers were making the trip over and it made for a good opportunity to socialize with my newfound family. I told myself I’d just have something light – haha, right, that never happens – and ended up instead with another massive plate of everything the DFAC had to offer. I opted for the homemade cheesecake this time for dessert and was not disappointed.
Let me jump back, in a Quentin Tarantino fashion, to breakfast. When I got into the office around six, Ron had just gotten off the phone with his dad and wanted to share a request he had; “Please shake the hands of some soldiers, wish them a Happy Thanksgiving, and tell them thank you for all they do from an 83 year old veteran back in the US.” It was the least we could do. We headed to the DFAC shortly thereafter and carried out his request as we left. It’s amazing what a brief conversation can do in terms of changing someone’s demeanor and, quite possibly, even making their day. It’s one of those things that can only be understood firsthand and I am most thankful for such an opportunity.
In keeping with the chill holiday atmosphere, everyone in my office decided it would be the perfect time for a movie night. We hooked up a projector and watched The Hangover – couldn’t have made a more ironic choice. A good time was had by all, after many laughs, and we still quote Alan’s wolfpack speech and Stu’s song about Doug…hilarious!
I received my first shipment of books in the mail and have started reading Inside Delta Force: The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit. It’s what inspired the TV series, The Unit, which I got hooked on just before deployment and watched in its entirety in less than two weeks. Cory, thanks for introducing me...I would highly recommend it to all!
Finally, to top off Thanksgiving, I walked into my tent and immediately discovered a certain void of people. Namely, all the subcontractors that were the very source of my frustration the previous week. What a relief! Inexplicable, but I’ll gladly take it and be thankful. Living conditions are so much better now.
There you have it; Thanksgiving redefined, by one Kevin Taylor, in the middle of Afghanistan! I’m thankful to be here, healthy, surrounded by great coworkers and brave soldiers, enjoying this wonderful opportunity. I’m very blessed. Only thing I’m missing is all my friends and family. I love you and am very thankful to have you in my life!!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
A day in the life…
Many of you have asked about the project (LOGCAP IV); specifically, what is it that Fluor does over here. This is from Fluor’s website, which sums everything up rather well.
“A challenging world calls for adventurous people. If you are looking for a job that requires courage, determination, and quick, clear thinking, Fluor has a place for you. The U.S. Army’s Logistics Civilian Augmentation Program IV (LOGCAP) provides contractor support and logistics work for U.S. military troops stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. As a LOGCAP prime contractor, Fluor is proud to support U.S. military personnel in various contingency environments around the globe. Fluor’s list of LOGCAP work opportunities includes many support roles such as construction jobs, construction engineers and superintendents, project controls, project managers, quality, site managers, HSE managers, logistics support, supply assignments, security jobs, firefighting opportunities, laundry service, food services support, water works, vector control sanitation jobs, billeting positions, maintenance jobs, and power generation support. We provide the Army with the logistical support it needs, so that soldiers can focus on the mission at hand. It’s a tough job, under conditions as demanding as any you will ever find. A LOGCAP assignment may place you in a hostile environment, even a war zone. But there are also rewards: Excellent pay, benefits, periodic vacations, and more. There is also the satisfaction of working at your utmost while helping others perform a critical service mission.”
Tent life has changed drastically this week. There were only 50-70 Americans and Bosnians in my tent at any given time – always some people out on R&R or at other FOBs. However, due to some military housing need, 150 subcontractors had to move into a couple of Fluor’s tents. They’re all from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Laos. Let me give a brief disclaimer: I’ve never been to any of those countries; so, the following comments are extremely biased and only pertain to the individuals I’ve crossed paths with here. Imagine two times the amount of people and four new languages all being interjected into the mix. I had just recently settled in and really had no complaints. Even the thermostat wars were nearing an end! But no, now I have to deal with the most inconsiderate, annoying, and outright frustrating people ever. Is it asking too much to close the door after you; not blare movies and music at all hours; or take some interest in personal hygiene, as to not stink up the entire tent??? I cannot begin to imagine how they operate amidst such chaos. Billeting is working on a solution to move all subcontractors into the same tents…please hurry!!
On a positive note, you know the saying, “you learn something new every day?” Tis true and I’ll explain in a minute, but let me first digress. What if I told you that it took me being all the way over here in Afghanistan to learn the meaning of a CD title that I’ve owned and listened to for years? Achtung Baby, by U2. I was walking by the heater outside the tent and saw “Achtung!” on the label. I thought to myself what is that doing on a heater? Come to think of it, all I know is that it’s a German word that’s hard to pronounce. Keeping true to my habit, albeit not nearly as readily, I Googled it once I got into the office and Wikipedia tells me that achtung means “watch out, attention, warning, or caution.” Makes sense for the heater, but now I’m gonna have to sample some songs off the CD to find the connection there.
Fridays here are special because the Bizarre is open. This is like a Haji shop on crack! Here at BAF there are probably 50 booths set up, selling antique firearms, chess sets, jewelry, electronics, rugs, jackets, and even camel rides. Every single one of the tenants is a hustler. Everything starts at a ridiculously marked up price – until you start to walk away, then it magically becomes cheaper. It’s starting to get cold here, so I bought a jacket this week. It’s a leather bomber style with sheep wool lining and very warm. Not a bad deal at forty dollars.
I’m officially on my way to a steady workout routine. I went Monday through Friday after work. Ran thirty minutes, biked fifteen, and lifted some weights. Thanks to this lingering cough, I’m getting a kickstart on my abs. At this altitude and just getting over the cold I figured it was going to be a struggle, but I feel great and am enjoying it.
It’s official, booked my first R&R this week for 04-Feb-10 thru 21-Feb-10. I’m going to Italy – Rome, Florence, Venice and surrounding areas. I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am. Regardless of being here, in less than desirable circumstances, traveling the world has long been a dream of mine. Plus, I love wine and Italian cuisine, so I imagine this will be perfect. The photographer in me is going to try to hit all the major sites possible along the way as well. Number one priority is rest and relaxation though.
Today we received an unexpected care package from the Greenville Finance team. I’m talking about all the good stuff that we don’t have here and probably shouldn’t be eating. Oreos, crackers, drink mixes, fudge, cookies, brownies, peanuts, trail mix, chapstick, gum, and beyond! Most everything was homemade too. All the people in the HR tent with us said, “wow, you finance guys sure are loved!” Thanks so much everyone, you’re the best!
I tried AIM video chat with my sister this weekend and it worked surprisingly well. I’ll try to stick with email and phone calls mostly, but it’s nice having that option available. My screen name is kevintaylor41084 if you want to give it a shot. Only Saturday and Sunday mornings your time would work because of the time difference and schedule here.
Movie time…talk to you later!!
“A challenging world calls for adventurous people. If you are looking for a job that requires courage, determination, and quick, clear thinking, Fluor has a place for you. The U.S. Army’s Logistics Civilian Augmentation Program IV (LOGCAP) provides contractor support and logistics work for U.S. military troops stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. As a LOGCAP prime contractor, Fluor is proud to support U.S. military personnel in various contingency environments around the globe. Fluor’s list of LOGCAP work opportunities includes many support roles such as construction jobs, construction engineers and superintendents, project controls, project managers, quality, site managers, HSE managers, logistics support, supply assignments, security jobs, firefighting opportunities, laundry service, food services support, water works, vector control sanitation jobs, billeting positions, maintenance jobs, and power generation support. We provide the Army with the logistical support it needs, so that soldiers can focus on the mission at hand. It’s a tough job, under conditions as demanding as any you will ever find. A LOGCAP assignment may place you in a hostile environment, even a war zone. But there are also rewards: Excellent pay, benefits, periodic vacations, and more. There is also the satisfaction of working at your utmost while helping others perform a critical service mission.”
Tent life has changed drastically this week. There were only 50-70 Americans and Bosnians in my tent at any given time – always some people out on R&R or at other FOBs. However, due to some military housing need, 150 subcontractors had to move into a couple of Fluor’s tents. They’re all from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Laos. Let me give a brief disclaimer: I’ve never been to any of those countries; so, the following comments are extremely biased and only pertain to the individuals I’ve crossed paths with here. Imagine two times the amount of people and four new languages all being interjected into the mix. I had just recently settled in and really had no complaints. Even the thermostat wars were nearing an end! But no, now I have to deal with the most inconsiderate, annoying, and outright frustrating people ever. Is it asking too much to close the door after you; not blare movies and music at all hours; or take some interest in personal hygiene, as to not stink up the entire tent??? I cannot begin to imagine how they operate amidst such chaos. Billeting is working on a solution to move all subcontractors into the same tents…please hurry!!
On a positive note, you know the saying, “you learn something new every day?” Tis true and I’ll explain in a minute, but let me first digress. What if I told you that it took me being all the way over here in Afghanistan to learn the meaning of a CD title that I’ve owned and listened to for years? Achtung Baby, by U2. I was walking by the heater outside the tent and saw “Achtung!” on the label. I thought to myself what is that doing on a heater? Come to think of it, all I know is that it’s a German word that’s hard to pronounce. Keeping true to my habit, albeit not nearly as readily, I Googled it once I got into the office and Wikipedia tells me that achtung means “watch out, attention, warning, or caution.” Makes sense for the heater, but now I’m gonna have to sample some songs off the CD to find the connection there.
Fridays here are special because the Bizarre is open. This is like a Haji shop on crack! Here at BAF there are probably 50 booths set up, selling antique firearms, chess sets, jewelry, electronics, rugs, jackets, and even camel rides. Every single one of the tenants is a hustler. Everything starts at a ridiculously marked up price – until you start to walk away, then it magically becomes cheaper. It’s starting to get cold here, so I bought a jacket this week. It’s a leather bomber style with sheep wool lining and very warm. Not a bad deal at forty dollars.
I’m officially on my way to a steady workout routine. I went Monday through Friday after work. Ran thirty minutes, biked fifteen, and lifted some weights. Thanks to this lingering cough, I’m getting a kickstart on my abs. At this altitude and just getting over the cold I figured it was going to be a struggle, but I feel great and am enjoying it.
It’s official, booked my first R&R this week for 04-Feb-10 thru 21-Feb-10. I’m going to Italy – Rome, Florence, Venice and surrounding areas. I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am. Regardless of being here, in less than desirable circumstances, traveling the world has long been a dream of mine. Plus, I love wine and Italian cuisine, so I imagine this will be perfect. The photographer in me is going to try to hit all the major sites possible along the way as well. Number one priority is rest and relaxation though.
Today we received an unexpected care package from the Greenville Finance team. I’m talking about all the good stuff that we don’t have here and probably shouldn’t be eating. Oreos, crackers, drink mixes, fudge, cookies, brownies, peanuts, trail mix, chapstick, gum, and beyond! Most everything was homemade too. All the people in the HR tent with us said, “wow, you finance guys sure are loved!” Thanks so much everyone, you’re the best!
I tried AIM video chat with my sister this weekend and it worked surprisingly well. I’ll try to stick with email and phone calls mostly, but it’s nice having that option available. My screen name is kevintaylor41084 if you want to give it a shot. Only Saturday and Sunday mornings your time would work because of the time difference and schedule here.
Movie time…talk to you later!!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sick, High, and Tired
Cannot believe it’s already Sunday! The rumors are true – traveling really passes the time. The shuttle picked me up (duffle bag, backpack, PPE, and all) at 0600 hours on Tuesday morning. We headed to the rotary wing terminal, where I had the privilege of waiting two hours for my flight before the three FOB trip was finally underway.
The helicopter was packed and the seating arrangement didn’t allow for any photos. Thirty minutes, and zero bullets, later we arrived at the first base. The altitude there is 6,500ft, compared to 4,500ft at BAF, which didn’t seem to be much of a change at the time. However, after ten hours of work, five miles of walking, negative six bottles of water, and the onset of a cold, I felt awful. The fact that I skipped dinner and welcomed a blazing hot room to sleep in confirmed that I was sick!
What’s worse is finding out that I had to be up at 0300 hours the next morning to get packed and ready to go. It’d be one thing if the flight was leaving then, but this was just to stand in line and find out if there was even space available for me. What’s more…the guy who was supposed to pick me up wasn’t there at 0330 hours, so I called him. He said he was on the way, then quickly called back and said, no, I said 0430 hours…see you in an hour. So there I am fully clothed and packed when I could’ve slept for another hour. Angry!
Just for the record, I didn’t get a flight out until 1000 hours. The only saving grace was that our “bird” was a Chinook (huge, tandem rotor helicopter) with three gunners. They lowered the back gate during the flight, which offered quite an amazing view. Plus, even though they weren’t needed, having three gunners on board is just plain fantastic. What an improvement on playing with G.I. Joes as kids.
The next two bases were much alike; smaller and at even higher altitudes, over 7,400ft. I could certainly get used to being at one of those. The whole outlook was different than BAF. Everyone knew each other, the atmosphere was very laid back, and it had a distinct personable feeling. The housing, office space, gym, and DFAC were significantly better than what I was used to as well.
The real highlight of my trip, as simple as it may sound was as follows. First, I got to drive! Second, shopping, but not in the girly, let’s go to the mall and just buy stuff because it’s what we do kinda way. The locals have Haji shops set up, much like a flea market. I got two of my favorite items there – a watch and phone. Granted, they aren’t the same as my Omega and Blackberry, but nice additions nonetheless. The watch is a knockoff Breitling, but I must admit it’s a nice timepiece. The phone is touchscreen and has all kinds of media options. It’s nice to have a slight resemblance of home here in the desert!
This afternoon I went with John and some of the guys to a BBQ DFAC. I had some pretty good ribs and amazing potato salad. It was a much welcomed change and might even become a Sunday tradition. If I can’t have pizza, beers, and football, this could be a good fix.
We should be moving into new office buildings, yes, actual buildings, this week. They’re on the other side of the base, which means a daily shuttle ride over. But that’s where the better food, PX (post exchange a.k.a. store that sells all sorts of random supplies), and more people I know are.
I’m still a little behind on my sleep from all the traveling so I’m gonna call it a night. Hope everyone is doing well and hope to talk to you soon!
The helicopter was packed and the seating arrangement didn’t allow for any photos. Thirty minutes, and zero bullets, later we arrived at the first base. The altitude there is 6,500ft, compared to 4,500ft at BAF, which didn’t seem to be much of a change at the time. However, after ten hours of work, five miles of walking, negative six bottles of water, and the onset of a cold, I felt awful. The fact that I skipped dinner and welcomed a blazing hot room to sleep in confirmed that I was sick!
What’s worse is finding out that I had to be up at 0300 hours the next morning to get packed and ready to go. It’d be one thing if the flight was leaving then, but this was just to stand in line and find out if there was even space available for me. What’s more…the guy who was supposed to pick me up wasn’t there at 0330 hours, so I called him. He said he was on the way, then quickly called back and said, no, I said 0430 hours…see you in an hour. So there I am fully clothed and packed when I could’ve slept for another hour. Angry!
Just for the record, I didn’t get a flight out until 1000 hours. The only saving grace was that our “bird” was a Chinook (huge, tandem rotor helicopter) with three gunners. They lowered the back gate during the flight, which offered quite an amazing view. Plus, even though they weren’t needed, having three gunners on board is just plain fantastic. What an improvement on playing with G.I. Joes as kids.
The next two bases were much alike; smaller and at even higher altitudes, over 7,400ft. I could certainly get used to being at one of those. The whole outlook was different than BAF. Everyone knew each other, the atmosphere was very laid back, and it had a distinct personable feeling. The housing, office space, gym, and DFAC were significantly better than what I was used to as well.
The real highlight of my trip, as simple as it may sound was as follows. First, I got to drive! Second, shopping, but not in the girly, let’s go to the mall and just buy stuff because it’s what we do kinda way. The locals have Haji shops set up, much like a flea market. I got two of my favorite items there – a watch and phone. Granted, they aren’t the same as my Omega and Blackberry, but nice additions nonetheless. The watch is a knockoff Breitling, but I must admit it’s a nice timepiece. The phone is touchscreen and has all kinds of media options. It’s nice to have a slight resemblance of home here in the desert!
This afternoon I went with John and some of the guys to a BBQ DFAC. I had some pretty good ribs and amazing potato salad. It was a much welcomed change and might even become a Sunday tradition. If I can’t have pizza, beers, and football, this could be a good fix.
We should be moving into new office buildings, yes, actual buildings, this week. They’re on the other side of the base, which means a daily shuttle ride over. But that’s where the better food, PX (post exchange a.k.a. store that sells all sorts of random supplies), and more people I know are.
I’m still a little behind on my sleep from all the traveling so I’m gonna call it a night. Hope everyone is doing well and hope to talk to you soon!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Shuttle bus, Thursdays, Snow, and the NFL
It’s Sunday, which means it’s time for an update from Paradise. As you may have guessed from the title, this is just a collection of random observations from the week. No particular order, rhyme, or reason…much like myself, at times!
If you read the article I posted the other night you’ll realize that BAF is a huge base. That said, we have two main office hubs – Country Support Office (CSO) and Life Support Area (LSA). I’m currently on the LSA side, but am told that a new office is being built on the CSO side for Finance. Fluor has a shuttle bus service that runs every 30 minutes between the two locations. (Keep in mind, the short route is a 15 minute drive and the long way is 30 minutes.) We have several Pilipino drivers who operate the shuttles. I must say they are some of the happiest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting here. A few minutes before leaving, they go around to all the office tents and say, “shuttle bus leaving” in quite a unique accent, which one coworker has mimicked all too well. We told him he better not piss off the drivers because they might fire back, “no shuttle bus for you!” Those familiar with Seinfeld can appreciate the Soup Nazi reference. Pretty sure that was one of those situations where you had to be there to fully appreciate the humor.
Thursdays around here are, well, interesting to say the least. Somewhere along the way, the Muslim faith established a notion that Allah “turns his back” on Thursdays. Consequently, the day has become known as Man Love Thursday. The saying, “women are for childbearing, men are for fun” has also been coined. I couldn’t care less what the Afghani men do on their own time. In all seriousness, there’s no real difference around here on Thursdays; other than the onslaught of related jokes. I think it’s just the thought of such a practice that is unsettling to us Westerners…and rightfully so, in my opinion.
Some of you asked if anything special happened for Halloween. Unless you consider fake spiders and webs around the door of the DFAC a special treat, that would be a negative! However, just about everyone in my office received a care package from home, which amounted to enough candy and junk food to last us the winter – our dentists thank you!
Fox sent over the NFL Pregame crew for an unprecedented live broadcast from Afghanistan on 08-Nov-09. They got here a couple days early and have been seen around the base. A friend of mine even got to have breakfast with Johnson and Bradshaw. What a unique opportunity! They came over to show their appreciation for all the troops over here, being that Veteran’s Day is just around the corner. I applaud them for the gesture. I cannot even say what an honor it is to be here and interact with the soldiers on a daily basis. Hats off to all the service men and women who put their lives at risk each and every day for us and our country!!!
Last night was the first time it’s rained since my arrival. This morning was absolutely beautiful. I couldn’t believe the difference. Perhaps someone transported our tent overnight to a new, dust-free location? Could it be? The mountains were capped with snow and visibility had increased a hundred fold. I understand the winters here are very scenic and look forward to getting even better pictures then. The forecast for the next several nights is around -5 C (20 F). My initial thought is, awesome! I’ll finally be able to sleep in a nice cool tent. I wonder if the thermostat battles will escalate now…please, no!!!
I’m scheduled to do some Forward Operating Base (FOB) traveling, starting next Tuesday. This is known as FOB-hopping around here. I will likely be gone 5-7 days, based on the plane/helo schedules. I’m looking forward to going because the common consensus is that accommodations are better and time goes by much faster. I’m going to do cash advances, audits, and meetings. I’ll be on a regular ring-route starting January, where I’ll be visiting many of the FOBs on a regular basis. Should be a great way to travel, take some great pictures, and work away the time before R&R!!
For those of you who know her, Misty just got back from her travels and has livened up the office…always good to see familiar faces around here!!
I’m calling it a night. Next Sunday may not work for the next post, depending on when I get back. I’ll post something just as soon as I can though. Hopefully some pictures…I know, I keep saying that, but the network here is so slow I usually don’t have the patience to deal with it. Good night all!
If you read the article I posted the other night you’ll realize that BAF is a huge base. That said, we have two main office hubs – Country Support Office (CSO) and Life Support Area (LSA). I’m currently on the LSA side, but am told that a new office is being built on the CSO side for Finance. Fluor has a shuttle bus service that runs every 30 minutes between the two locations. (Keep in mind, the short route is a 15 minute drive and the long way is 30 minutes.) We have several Pilipino drivers who operate the shuttles. I must say they are some of the happiest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting here. A few minutes before leaving, they go around to all the office tents and say, “shuttle bus leaving” in quite a unique accent, which one coworker has mimicked all too well. We told him he better not piss off the drivers because they might fire back, “no shuttle bus for you!” Those familiar with Seinfeld can appreciate the Soup Nazi reference. Pretty sure that was one of those situations where you had to be there to fully appreciate the humor.
Thursdays around here are, well, interesting to say the least. Somewhere along the way, the Muslim faith established a notion that Allah “turns his back” on Thursdays. Consequently, the day has become known as Man Love Thursday. The saying, “women are for childbearing, men are for fun” has also been coined. I couldn’t care less what the Afghani men do on their own time. In all seriousness, there’s no real difference around here on Thursdays; other than the onslaught of related jokes. I think it’s just the thought of such a practice that is unsettling to us Westerners…and rightfully so, in my opinion.
Some of you asked if anything special happened for Halloween. Unless you consider fake spiders and webs around the door of the DFAC a special treat, that would be a negative! However, just about everyone in my office received a care package from home, which amounted to enough candy and junk food to last us the winter – our dentists thank you!
Fox sent over the NFL Pregame crew for an unprecedented live broadcast from Afghanistan on 08-Nov-09. They got here a couple days early and have been seen around the base. A friend of mine even got to have breakfast with Johnson and Bradshaw. What a unique opportunity! They came over to show their appreciation for all the troops over here, being that Veteran’s Day is just around the corner. I applaud them for the gesture. I cannot even say what an honor it is to be here and interact with the soldiers on a daily basis. Hats off to all the service men and women who put their lives at risk each and every day for us and our country!!!
Last night was the first time it’s rained since my arrival. This morning was absolutely beautiful. I couldn’t believe the difference. Perhaps someone transported our tent overnight to a new, dust-free location? Could it be? The mountains were capped with snow and visibility had increased a hundred fold. I understand the winters here are very scenic and look forward to getting even better pictures then. The forecast for the next several nights is around -5 C (20 F). My initial thought is, awesome! I’ll finally be able to sleep in a nice cool tent. I wonder if the thermostat battles will escalate now…please, no!!!
I’m scheduled to do some Forward Operating Base (FOB) traveling, starting next Tuesday. This is known as FOB-hopping around here. I will likely be gone 5-7 days, based on the plane/helo schedules. I’m looking forward to going because the common consensus is that accommodations are better and time goes by much faster. I’m going to do cash advances, audits, and meetings. I’ll be on a regular ring-route starting January, where I’ll be visiting many of the FOBs on a regular basis. Should be a great way to travel, take some great pictures, and work away the time before R&R!!
For those of you who know her, Misty just got back from her travels and has livened up the office…always good to see familiar faces around here!!
I’m calling it a night. Next Sunday may not work for the next post, depending on when I get back. I’ll post something just as soon as I can though. Hopefully some pictures…I know, I keep saying that, but the network here is so slow I usually don’t have the patience to deal with it. Good night all!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Already the main Afghan war hub, Bagram is growing
I found this to be an interesting article about BAF...
By HAMZA HENDAWI (AP) – 02-Nov-09
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Seen from a tiny village on a recent moonless night, the sprawling U.S. base three miles to the north looks more like a medium-size city than a military facility in a war zone.
Bagram Air Field, as the base is formally known, is the largest U.S. military hub of the war in Afghanistan and is home to some 24,000 military personnel and civilian contractors. Yet it is continuing to grow to keep up with the requirements of an escalating war and troop increases.
With tens of millions of dollars pouring into expanding and upgrading facilities, Bagram is turning into something of a military "boom town." Large swathes of the 2,000-hectare (5,000-acre) base look like a construction site, with the rumble of building machinery and the scream of fighter-jets overhead providing the soundtrack.
The rapid growth here is taking place at a time when the Obama administration is debating the future direction of the increasingly unpopular war, now in its ninth year. Among the options under discussion is a recommendation by U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the overall commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, to bring in additional U.S. troops, perhaps as many as 80,000.
But even with current troop levels — 65,000 U.S. troops and about 40,000 from allied countries — Bagram already is bursting at the seams.
Plans are under way to build a new, $22 million passenger terminal and a new cargo yard costing $9 million. To increase cargo capacity, a new parking ramp supporting the world's largest aircraft is to be completed this spring.
Elsewhere at Bagram, construction has begun on permanent brick-and mortar housing for troops and headquarters for military units, according to Lt. Col. Troy Joslin, chief of Bagram's operations.
Hundreds of Afghan builders in traditional tunics, loose pants and hard hats arrive by bus every morning. Dozens of trucks laden with dirt and other building materials come into the base daily.
The water and electricity systems and the waste management facility are being upgraded. The Army Corps of Engineers is increasing the capacity of the base's roads as well as building new ones on the east side of the airfield, said Joslin.
The base command is acquiring more land next year on the east side to expand the base, according to Joslin. No figure was given.
When the U.S. military took over Bagram in December 2001, the base was 1,616 hectares (3,993 acres), according to Capt. Jennifer Bocanegra, a military spokeswoman at Bagram.
It is now 2,104 hectares (5,198 acres), she said.
Bocanegra said the lease of additional land to expand Bagram was needed to protect personnel and accomplish missions. "The acquisitions have been made with the express knowledge and consent of the Afghan Government," she said.
The base's main road, a tree-lined thoroughfare called "Disney drive," is so congested at times it looks like a downtown street at rush hour. Kicking up dust on that road are Humvees, mine-resistant vehicles, SUVs, buses, trucks and sedans.
A pedestrian path running alongside that road is as busy as a shopping street on a Saturday afternoon, with hundreds of soldiers, Marines, airmen, navy officers and civilian contractors almost rubbing shoulders. Similarly, the lines are long at the overcrowded food halls, the American fast food outlets, cafes, PX stores and ATM machines.
Signs on bathroom walls warn of a water shortage.
"If you think you are maybe wasting water, YOU PROBABLY ARE," warns one sign.
Clients must wait, sometimes for up to an hour, for a haircut. For the luxury of a back massage, an appointment is recommended.
The air field is already handling 400 short tons of cargo and 1,000 passengers daily, according to Air Force spokesman Capt. David Faggard. A new 3.5-kilometer (2.17-mile runway) was completed in 2006, to accommodate large aircraft, he added.
Bagram was a major Soviet base during Moscow's 1979-89 occupation of Afghanistan, providing air support to Soviet and Afghan forces fighting the mujahedeen. It also was fought over by rival factions during the country's civil war that followed the Soviet withdrawal.
The view from the old Soviet-built air traffic tower, replaced last year by a new, $50 million tower, reveals a picture more akin to a busy commercial hub than a military facility in a war zone. So frantic is the pace at the air field that giant C-17 transport aircraft fill up with soldiers almost as soon as their cargo is emptied.
"The current expansion supports thousands of additional Coalition troops, either assigned to or supported from Bagram Air Field," said Bocanegra.
With Bagram's rapid growth and increase in importance to the war effort, the need to protect it was never greater. The responsibility for that primarily falls on Air Force personnel and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division.
Bagram lies in Parwan, a relatively quiet province. The Taliban-led insurgency, while growing in numbers and strength elsewhere, is not known to have a significant presence in the province.
By HAMZA HENDAWI (AP) – 02-Nov-09
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Seen from a tiny village on a recent moonless night, the sprawling U.S. base three miles to the north looks more like a medium-size city than a military facility in a war zone.
Bagram Air Field, as the base is formally known, is the largest U.S. military hub of the war in Afghanistan and is home to some 24,000 military personnel and civilian contractors. Yet it is continuing to grow to keep up with the requirements of an escalating war and troop increases.
With tens of millions of dollars pouring into expanding and upgrading facilities, Bagram is turning into something of a military "boom town." Large swathes of the 2,000-hectare (5,000-acre) base look like a construction site, with the rumble of building machinery and the scream of fighter-jets overhead providing the soundtrack.
The rapid growth here is taking place at a time when the Obama administration is debating the future direction of the increasingly unpopular war, now in its ninth year. Among the options under discussion is a recommendation by U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the overall commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, to bring in additional U.S. troops, perhaps as many as 80,000.
But even with current troop levels — 65,000 U.S. troops and about 40,000 from allied countries — Bagram already is bursting at the seams.
Plans are under way to build a new, $22 million passenger terminal and a new cargo yard costing $9 million. To increase cargo capacity, a new parking ramp supporting the world's largest aircraft is to be completed this spring.
Elsewhere at Bagram, construction has begun on permanent brick-and mortar housing for troops and headquarters for military units, according to Lt. Col. Troy Joslin, chief of Bagram's operations.
Hundreds of Afghan builders in traditional tunics, loose pants and hard hats arrive by bus every morning. Dozens of trucks laden with dirt and other building materials come into the base daily.
The water and electricity systems and the waste management facility are being upgraded. The Army Corps of Engineers is increasing the capacity of the base's roads as well as building new ones on the east side of the airfield, said Joslin.
The base command is acquiring more land next year on the east side to expand the base, according to Joslin. No figure was given.
When the U.S. military took over Bagram in December 2001, the base was 1,616 hectares (3,993 acres), according to Capt. Jennifer Bocanegra, a military spokeswoman at Bagram.
It is now 2,104 hectares (5,198 acres), she said.
Bocanegra said the lease of additional land to expand Bagram was needed to protect personnel and accomplish missions. "The acquisitions have been made with the express knowledge and consent of the Afghan Government," she said.
The base's main road, a tree-lined thoroughfare called "Disney drive," is so congested at times it looks like a downtown street at rush hour. Kicking up dust on that road are Humvees, mine-resistant vehicles, SUVs, buses, trucks and sedans.
A pedestrian path running alongside that road is as busy as a shopping street on a Saturday afternoon, with hundreds of soldiers, Marines, airmen, navy officers and civilian contractors almost rubbing shoulders. Similarly, the lines are long at the overcrowded food halls, the American fast food outlets, cafes, PX stores and ATM machines.
Signs on bathroom walls warn of a water shortage.
"If you think you are maybe wasting water, YOU PROBABLY ARE," warns one sign.
Clients must wait, sometimes for up to an hour, for a haircut. For the luxury of a back massage, an appointment is recommended.
The air field is already handling 400 short tons of cargo and 1,000 passengers daily, according to Air Force spokesman Capt. David Faggard. A new 3.5-kilometer (2.17-mile runway) was completed in 2006, to accommodate large aircraft, he added.
Bagram was a major Soviet base during Moscow's 1979-89 occupation of Afghanistan, providing air support to Soviet and Afghan forces fighting the mujahedeen. It also was fought over by rival factions during the country's civil war that followed the Soviet withdrawal.
The view from the old Soviet-built air traffic tower, replaced last year by a new, $50 million tower, reveals a picture more akin to a busy commercial hub than a military facility in a war zone. So frantic is the pace at the air field that giant C-17 transport aircraft fill up with soldiers almost as soon as their cargo is emptied.
"The current expansion supports thousands of additional Coalition troops, either assigned to or supported from Bagram Air Field," said Bocanegra.
With Bagram's rapid growth and increase in importance to the war effort, the need to protect it was never greater. The responsibility for that primarily falls on Air Force personnel and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division.
Bagram lies in Parwan, a relatively quiet province. The Taliban-led insurgency, while growing in numbers and strength elsewhere, is not known to have a significant presence in the province.
Monday, November 2, 2009
USA to Afghanistan in four months!
On 04-Jun-09 I received an email requesting volunteers for field Finance positions on the LOGCAP IV project in Afghanistan. After interviewing over the following two weeks I was offered the position, pending the award of the new contract to Fluor. This is where my test of patience begins; commonly known as the “hurry up and wait” game, which anyone who’s dealt with the government should be well versed.
Finally, on 08-Jul-09, we won the award and could officially proceed. The next month involved lots of training—replacements for my current position and attending training for my new assignment. The week of mobilization training I went through was quite extensive; covering everything from first aid, anti-terrorism, and culture to SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training. I promptly resumed the hurry up and wait game from 05-Aug-09 to 25-Oct-09. During this time I had to pack for a year, which is mind-boggling enough on its own; not to mention, I’ve got about 0.17% idea of what living on a military base in Afghanistan warrants in terms of supplies. Nonetheless, I shipped 70lbs over in a footlocker, leaving me with two duffle bags and my backpack—about 160lbs combined. Um, yeah, 230lbs of supplies should do it, right?
My flight from GSP to ATL was on 26-Oct-09 at 1630 hours (might as well get acquainted with military time). I got to the airport early and enjoyed a couple Jameson on the rocks with family and friends, but nearly missed my flight. Yes, yours truly was that guy who ran through the terminal saying, “hold the door” like an idiot! Having about a four hour layover in ATL, I was able to converse with some interesting people in the international concourse’s bar—from a Patron promotion girl, to a guy from Denmark who now has a winery in Atlanta and a son deploying to Afghanistan next year, to a couple from down under. A Guinness or three later, I boarded the 777 for Dubai at 2120 hours. Twenty minutes into the flight, the gentleman next to me proceeded to talk nonstop for the next seven hours. I believe all the stories about his Thailand girlfriends and the two glasses of wine finally did him in. Now, only seven more hours…what to do? Oh yeah, did I mention the video equipment on the plane was experiencing technical difficulties, i.e. did not work! I opted out of eating anything on the plane and passed the time listening to my new music on the iPod. We landed in Dubai at 1930 hours on Tuesday. After an excruciating journey through customs, baggage claim, and a bus ride, we arrived at the Manhattan hotel. Once checked in, several of us enjoyed a final night in civilization with a few Heinekens and steak dinner before retiring to our rooms. One last hot shower and then off to sleep for the first time since Sunday night.
Wednesday morning at 0600 hours we headed back to the Dubai international airport for a 0830 flight into Afghanistan. After my second trip through customs within twelve hours, I satiated my insane hunger with none other than a bigmac and a coke. I was lucky enough to score a front row seat on the plane, but quickly wished I’d been by the window. From the few peeks I was able to sneak, the landscape around Afghanistan is impressive. Three mountain ridges converge right around the Bagram Air Field (BAF), which sits at the basin. I’d liken the mountains here to those in Nevada. Upon landing at 1200 hours, 300’ish passengers were divided into their respective groups based on employer. Those of us with Fluor had to check in and retrieve our luggage. We then took a shuttle bus to our tent, a.k.a. “home” for the next year. I believe it was the drive around base that caused me to finally say, “WTF, I’m really in Afghanistan!” Not in a bad sense, just a shocking reality. After all the weeks of talking and planning, here I am. Back on track…we then headed to pick up our Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). If you haven’t caught on yet, Fluor and Uncle Sam thoroughly enjoy acronym usage. We were told to take the rest of the day to unpack and get familiar with our new living arrangements. My tent is approx 200x80 feet, capable of sleeping 140 people, and strictly for Fluor employees—mostly American and Bosnian thus far, with newbies arriving daily. The latrines and showers are about 100 yards away. Nice, new facility that offers privacy; which is far better than other locations from what I hear. I was warned that the showers would be cold, but nothing could have prepared me for the breathtaking experience that ensued, literally…gasp! Thankfully, the water has been warm’ish ever since. My first night I couldn’t sleep at all; perhaps the nerves, adrenaline, and jets taking off all night lead to the insomnia. The other issue that continues to plague me is that people keep turning up the thermostat to 40 degrees Celsius, which equates to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Really, I mean, who can possibly be comfortable in those conditions? I expected to bundle up in my sleeping bag and hope it would be warm enough to survive the Afghan winter night. After an hour or two of thermostat wars, the temperature ends up somewhere between 20 and 30, which is tolerable.
My morning begins with a chilly trip to the Dining Facility (DFAC), which is a few minutes walk away. The food is abundant, above and beyond what I expected. They provide a plethora of options, from healthy to painfully greasy. Between eating healthy and all the walking I’d like to think I’m keeping in shape. No gym regiment as of yet, but I hope to start soon. After breakfast I have an 8 minute walk to the office. It’s a nice setup considering we’re in the middle of Afghanistan. Somewhat close quarters but my coworkers are great and we maintain sanity via frequent hilarity. As predicted, I miss having my crackberry at my side—it’s easily faster than the internet connection here. The rest of my day is much of the same; DFAC for lunch, back to the office, DFAC for dinner, then personal time catching up on emails, facebook, and this blog. Once I get back to my tent I’ve got enough energy to shower and get to bed. The twelve hour shift goes by surprisingly fast, but eventually catches up to me.
If you made it this far, I’m impressed. Didn’t realize how much I’ve rambled on. I hope this has shed some light on my new life 8,000 miles away. I plan on adding new posts on a weekly basis. I’ll aim for blog updates every Sunday with the latest that the week has had to offer. Until then, feel free to email or facebook me. Love and miss everyone!
Finally, on 08-Jul-09, we won the award and could officially proceed. The next month involved lots of training—replacements for my current position and attending training for my new assignment. The week of mobilization training I went through was quite extensive; covering everything from first aid, anti-terrorism, and culture to SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training. I promptly resumed the hurry up and wait game from 05-Aug-09 to 25-Oct-09. During this time I had to pack for a year, which is mind-boggling enough on its own; not to mention, I’ve got about 0.17% idea of what living on a military base in Afghanistan warrants in terms of supplies. Nonetheless, I shipped 70lbs over in a footlocker, leaving me with two duffle bags and my backpack—about 160lbs combined. Um, yeah, 230lbs of supplies should do it, right?
My flight from GSP to ATL was on 26-Oct-09 at 1630 hours (might as well get acquainted with military time). I got to the airport early and enjoyed a couple Jameson on the rocks with family and friends, but nearly missed my flight. Yes, yours truly was that guy who ran through the terminal saying, “hold the door” like an idiot! Having about a four hour layover in ATL, I was able to converse with some interesting people in the international concourse’s bar—from a Patron promotion girl, to a guy from Denmark who now has a winery in Atlanta and a son deploying to Afghanistan next year, to a couple from down under. A Guinness or three later, I boarded the 777 for Dubai at 2120 hours. Twenty minutes into the flight, the gentleman next to me proceeded to talk nonstop for the next seven hours. I believe all the stories about his Thailand girlfriends and the two glasses of wine finally did him in. Now, only seven more hours…what to do? Oh yeah, did I mention the video equipment on the plane was experiencing technical difficulties, i.e. did not work! I opted out of eating anything on the plane and passed the time listening to my new music on the iPod. We landed in Dubai at 1930 hours on Tuesday. After an excruciating journey through customs, baggage claim, and a bus ride, we arrived at the Manhattan hotel. Once checked in, several of us enjoyed a final night in civilization with a few Heinekens and steak dinner before retiring to our rooms. One last hot shower and then off to sleep for the first time since Sunday night.
Wednesday morning at 0600 hours we headed back to the Dubai international airport for a 0830 flight into Afghanistan. After my second trip through customs within twelve hours, I satiated my insane hunger with none other than a bigmac and a coke. I was lucky enough to score a front row seat on the plane, but quickly wished I’d been by the window. From the few peeks I was able to sneak, the landscape around Afghanistan is impressive. Three mountain ridges converge right around the Bagram Air Field (BAF), which sits at the basin. I’d liken the mountains here to those in Nevada. Upon landing at 1200 hours, 300’ish passengers were divided into their respective groups based on employer. Those of us with Fluor had to check in and retrieve our luggage. We then took a shuttle bus to our tent, a.k.a. “home” for the next year. I believe it was the drive around base that caused me to finally say, “WTF, I’m really in Afghanistan!” Not in a bad sense, just a shocking reality. After all the weeks of talking and planning, here I am. Back on track…we then headed to pick up our Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). If you haven’t caught on yet, Fluor and Uncle Sam thoroughly enjoy acronym usage. We were told to take the rest of the day to unpack and get familiar with our new living arrangements. My tent is approx 200x80 feet, capable of sleeping 140 people, and strictly for Fluor employees—mostly American and Bosnian thus far, with newbies arriving daily. The latrines and showers are about 100 yards away. Nice, new facility that offers privacy; which is far better than other locations from what I hear. I was warned that the showers would be cold, but nothing could have prepared me for the breathtaking experience that ensued, literally…gasp! Thankfully, the water has been warm’ish ever since. My first night I couldn’t sleep at all; perhaps the nerves, adrenaline, and jets taking off all night lead to the insomnia. The other issue that continues to plague me is that people keep turning up the thermostat to 40 degrees Celsius, which equates to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Really, I mean, who can possibly be comfortable in those conditions? I expected to bundle up in my sleeping bag and hope it would be warm enough to survive the Afghan winter night. After an hour or two of thermostat wars, the temperature ends up somewhere between 20 and 30, which is tolerable.
My morning begins with a chilly trip to the Dining Facility (DFAC), which is a few minutes walk away. The food is abundant, above and beyond what I expected. They provide a plethora of options, from healthy to painfully greasy. Between eating healthy and all the walking I’d like to think I’m keeping in shape. No gym regiment as of yet, but I hope to start soon. After breakfast I have an 8 minute walk to the office. It’s a nice setup considering we’re in the middle of Afghanistan. Somewhat close quarters but my coworkers are great and we maintain sanity via frequent hilarity. As predicted, I miss having my crackberry at my side—it’s easily faster than the internet connection here. The rest of my day is much of the same; DFAC for lunch, back to the office, DFAC for dinner, then personal time catching up on emails, facebook, and this blog. Once I get back to my tent I’ve got enough energy to shower and get to bed. The twelve hour shift goes by surprisingly fast, but eventually catches up to me.
If you made it this far, I’m impressed. Didn’t realize how much I’ve rambled on. I hope this has shed some light on my new life 8,000 miles away. I plan on adding new posts on a weekly basis. I’ll aim for blog updates every Sunday with the latest that the week has had to offer. Until then, feel free to email or facebook me. Love and miss everyone!
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