Friday, January 25, 2008

From 25 Jan 07 to 25 Jan 08- one year and counting

Caught up in the demobilization process for the Training Center, I just now realize at the end of the day- I've been doing this military thing for a year now.

A year ago at this time I was headed to Camp Parks for a parade primarily intended to praise the CG, and then we went to Ft. Riley a month too early.

It has actually gotten much better for me since we left Fort Riley. I prefer a war zone to that training environment, frankly. Of course, I'm not in a combat unit, though.

Today was one of those existential days- got a "tasker" from Baghdad- something urgent- had to work at the computer all day (that almost never happens to me here- I'm usually free to roam around the training, go exercise, do chai with various Iraqi National Police and Army folks). And then towards the end of the day, got some information which suggested that what I'd spent all day working on probably wasn't really necessary. Hmm. There's some lemonade to be made out of this somewhere....

But I'm a day closer to being with my family.

Funny week, though. Last week we had the MNSTC-I CG singing the praises of the training center to the House Armed Services Committee. This week we host General Petraeus, the Minister of Interior, Al Bolani, and a prominent Sunni leader, Dr. Samarie (of, you guessed it- Samarra!). And then we shut the place down. We're so good, we're....closing. Of course its only temporary until all the powers that be on Iraqi and U.S. sides figure things out as to what exactly they want to do and how they want to do it, but it would have been nice to have that sorted out prior to the point of sending everyone home but myself and my NCO, peace be upon him.

Most interesting blog post I came across today was one with children's letters to a deployed soldier from my same "Task Force." Children are funny.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is Laura from BYU Army ROTC - I work in the admin office with Mike. Don't know if you remember me.
Your blog is fun and interesting and I've enjoyed reading it all the way through.
Life is good here behind the Zion Curtain. No one is shooting real bullets at us. :) Mostly we're just tired of the nearly constant snow this winter.
Good to "see" you again!

Dana said...

Laura,

Glad you're enjoying the blog. I've never bothered with a counter or anything like that, because I do it mostly for myself and friends, but I'm always happy to hear others are getting a kick out of it.

And no, I don't miss the snow.

Best to you and the ROTC crew!

Jason said...

Didn't realize we were in the same "task force", but thanks for the link! Do you mind if I add you to my blog roll?

- Jason of the IRR

Dana said...

Jason,

Feel free- I also enjoyed your awards rant. Good stuff.

dlt