3 Weeks In

Some time has passed since my last post. This is because my computer screen crapped out on me about 2 weeks ago. The LCD screen seemed to crack somehow so I had to send it into Samsung to get it replaced. Pretty quick turnaround, so I cannot really complain too much.

First things first, pregnancy update: Christine is doing great! Her scheduled due date is Monday, February 6^th.  Her body is progressing well. I will be flying home on a 4 day pass on Thursday, February 9^th, so if she has not gone by then, we will be inducing. Not the most ideal situation, but it is what it is and after baby is here, it really won’t matter that much.

The week before last, we actually had some very good mission specific training. I will be preforming the role of a military advisor to an Afghan counterpart in the way of communications (radios, computer networks, etc…).  We had a week long training session with Afghan military role players running through various scenarios. They were contractors that were actually once in the Afghan National Army (ANA). We worked through an interpreter negotiating with them as well as conducing small talk, which they are very big on. You have to build a rapport with them and trust before they will even begin to do business. They are also big on chi tea. From what we have learned they have it at every meeting. They are very easily offended so you really have to stay professional and watch your Ps and Qs. I personally look forward to the job since it will be a bit of a challenge. They say your patience is really tested because they work on an entirely different schedule then we do. When you say let’s meet at 8am, they might show up by 8:45am. You cannot be direct with them either, you have to plant the seed and let it grow over time. Very different to our culture. I am really looking forward to it.

I am sitting in the middle on the left. Our interpreter is sitting between us and the Afghan role players. During this session we just talked about our families to build rapport.

This was another class that we had on the military radio. Not the most exciting bit of training for sure.

Last week we did some vehicle training. You will remember in a previous post I discussed the new family of vehicles called MRAPs. These are Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles that protect us from the IED threat and have replaced the very well know Hummer.  We actually got to drive a few of them and man are they nice. I was really impressed with what we have been able to product. The first vehicle we drove was called the M-ATV and is made by Oshkosh out of Wisconsin. It is the direct replacement to the Hummer and is about 2.5 times the size. Below is a picture of me standing in from of it. This is like the ultimate off-road vehicle. Surprisingly very easy to drive too!  Later that same day we did a night driving exercise with a MaxPro, which is made by International build on a dump truck frame. It was a beast, but again, very easy to drive. The night driving was done with a infrared camera and a drop down screen. It was like driving a video game. Again, very impressed.

Me with M-ATV to give it some scale. This is one that we drove. Notice the turret on top it is remote contolled by the gunner seateed behind the driver using a large display screen and a joysick.

This gives you and idea of the protection is affords the passengers. Looks like just another day at work.

This is the MaxPro, which is more of a personnel carrier. It is built on an International dump truck chassis.

The day after the vehicle training we had a short class on weapon transition. This is the act of moving from our primary weapon, the M4 (M16), to our secondary weapon, M9 (9mm pistol) in the most efficient manner possible. The goal is to setup the equipment on your body armor to allow this to happen and develop the muscle memory making it a natural movement. It is all about repetition.

This week we sat through 5 days of Dari training. This is the official language of the ANA. The training left much to be desired and not many were able to get a lot out of it. It was way too much information in such a short amount of time. Being as how we will have interpreters it is not that critical and we will pick up the basics one we are on the ground and thrust into the environment.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday and we have the day off.  Most everyone will be going to a sports bar on post to watch the game. Being on deployment orders, we are not permitted to drink alcohol, but our commander managed to get a 2 beer exception for everyone while watching the game. I myself will be going to a buddies place here on post to watch the game with a few other people. Will probably just order a pizza and chill on the couch.

Monday we have more briefings and we hit the ranges for the rest of the week. We finally get to through some lead down range!

My next post may come with some big news, so stay tuned, we are getting very close to finding our if Baby will be a boy or a girl. We are really getting antsy now.