Another month has passed, and yet again, I find myself looking up my pictures and stories to find that I'm VERY behind on updating both of them on here. I won't apologize, because you're getting them now... so stop whining!
The last post really only covered the first part of January, which was busy to be sure, but the pace hasn't really slowed that much in the 2+ months I've been in the new camp. Basrah, despite being in Iraq/the desert, is more than just sand and sun, and does in fact get cold in the winter. I'm not talking Utah cold, but we saw the temp drop below 40 on more than one occasion, and when we we're out on the flight line wearing the same thing we wear in the summer, it seems pretty wintry. Unfortunately I'm going to go an entire winter without seeing snow for the first time in my life, but I guess that's a small price to pay for a new experience, right? At least that's what I'm telling myself.
As for time left out here, I'm on the home stretch now. The detachment ahead of us finished their waves of departures today, which means we're next in line! Our replacements should arrive sometime next month, and once that happens, it'll be a quick couple of weeks before I'm boarding a plane back to Guam with deployment #2 under my belt. Exciting times ahead... but I digress... allow me to look backwards a bit.
Pictures will drive most of the stories for this post, so if anyone wants more to any of these, I'll fill you in another time. Sorry, but not quite everything out here can go on the blog.
They let us have some fun every once in a while. Kelly Pickler and Jamey Johnson (and another guy I didn't recognize) came to play at the USO Stage for a night. We even got to meet them after the show. An even BETTER story is from when the Florida Marlins sent some folks out here. I saw the 2 players that made the trip in our DFAC (dining facility) and since they were just sitting at the table by themselves, I figured I needed to take my chance and go say hello. ended up having dinner with the 2 of them and just chatting for about 20 minutes. No pictures allowed in there, but it was still the highlight to that week. Their blog from the trip is on the Marlins' website if anyone is curious.
Outside the DFAC, with our chariot waiting. The A-Team van is real.
Our "gym" for most of my deployment. It looks different now that the Army has started moving out of here. The cover is gone, and we actually got some more stuff that other people were throwing away. Not a perfect gym, but it's all we've got for the alert crews.
hanging out with some of my crew. The hookah is a popluar relaxation tool out here. At least it smells better than cigarettes!
Back at the Brady Lines (our tents) hanging out on a rather cold January Night
After our short stint in the bunker, we decided to enjoy the last part of the night. Music, Hookah, Cigars, and a good crowd.
Standard living arrangements in Southern Iraq. I think I'll probably complain less after seeing this part of the world.
Not all sand, but it's still pretty dry.
Trees!
Kids waving to us as we fly by. We'll wave the aircraft back usually.
"Artsy" picture of the oil fires to the West of the airfield. I'm not sure that's all water, but it looks pretty cool whatever it is.
In Flight.
One of the best crews I flew with out here. The Air Force PJ's ran away before the picture, but 3 squadrons plus the USAF are represented in this crew. Fun day for us.
Life through a green lens at night.
Fueling up after a mission
2 Beers on Super Bowl Sunday. Delicious.
Not actually any beer left in there, but I figured the can was worth keeping ;)
I got a rare and pretty exciting opportunity when our aircraft flew in formation with a AH-64 Apache up to Tallil for a Conference that our OIC had to attend. Mixed aren't uncommon if the mission needs it, but this kind of flight doesn't come around all that often for a Navy pilot to fly with something so unique. I feel pretty lucky to have been on the schedule for it, so I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to get some good pics!
A picture of why the air is so unhealthy here. Always somehting burning, and it's usually oil.
LCDR Chaney and me by our lead aircraft.
Armed.
Texans... some things never change.
Some parking lot furnature at the Apache base facilities.
"Crashed" airplaine near the refueling pits in Basrah
On the walk to work, I figured I should get some pictures of these for the people who don't see them driving around every day. MRAP's.
View of base. Our building is right about where my hat meets the horizon.
Mark and me riding from the aircraft to Maintenance Control before a flight.
Another night in the bunker. Got enough thin mints to last me though.
Nobody was too happy with the flash photography at 0130, but I think the picture is worth it.
Body armor/survival vest. At least we're not wearing the green stuff in the desert anymore!
We flew some people down who were rotating to the Kuwait station, and unfortunately the bad weather during the day got even worse at night, so we had to stay overnight at our old stomping grounds down south. Not a bad deal, but we were't exactly ready to sleep over, so we were definitely glad to get back the next morning.
And here's an example of the weather mentioned above.
From about 200yds away, you can barely see our aircraft
Looking at the sun becomes safe though, so we got that goin' for us...
Picture not doctored at all. Red sand blew in one morning and made the whole place look like mars. Break out the surgical masks, and try not to breathe.
View from the highest point I could find of our tents at Brady Lines.
Light at the end of the tunnel! :) Home in a few weeks.
More of the A-Team van. Right outside our buildings
The last post really only covered the first part of January, which was busy to be sure, but the pace hasn't really slowed that much in the 2+ months I've been in the new camp. Basrah, despite being in Iraq/the desert, is more than just sand and sun, and does in fact get cold in the winter. I'm not talking Utah cold, but we saw the temp drop below 40 on more than one occasion, and when we we're out on the flight line wearing the same thing we wear in the summer, it seems pretty wintry. Unfortunately I'm going to go an entire winter without seeing snow for the first time in my life, but I guess that's a small price to pay for a new experience, right? At least that's what I'm telling myself.
As for time left out here, I'm on the home stretch now. The detachment ahead of us finished their waves of departures today, which means we're next in line! Our replacements should arrive sometime next month, and once that happens, it'll be a quick couple of weeks before I'm boarding a plane back to Guam with deployment #2 under my belt. Exciting times ahead... but I digress... allow me to look backwards a bit.
Pictures will drive most of the stories for this post, so if anyone wants more to any of these, I'll fill you in another time. Sorry, but not quite everything out here can go on the blog.
Even though the oil fires create the "everlasting sunset," the real thing still looks nice out here.
They let us have some fun every once in a while. Kelly Pickler and Jamey Johnson (and another guy I didn't recognize) came to play at the USO Stage for a night. We even got to meet them after the show. An even BETTER story is from when the Florida Marlins sent some folks out here. I saw the 2 players that made the trip in our DFAC (dining facility) and since they were just sitting at the table by themselves, I figured I needed to take my chance and go say hello. ended up having dinner with the 2 of them and just chatting for about 20 minutes. No pictures allowed in there, but it was still the highlight to that week. Their blog from the trip is on the Marlins' website if anyone is curious.
Outside the DFAC, with our chariot waiting. The A-Team van is real.
Our "gym" for most of my deployment. It looks different now that the Army has started moving out of here. The cover is gone, and we actually got some more stuff that other people were throwing away. Not a perfect gym, but it's all we've got for the alert crews.
hanging out with some of my crew. The hookah is a popluar relaxation tool out here. At least it smells better than cigarettes!
Back at the Brady Lines (our tents) hanging out on a rather cold January Night
After our short stint in the bunker, we decided to enjoy the last part of the night. Music, Hookah, Cigars, and a good crowd.
Standard living arrangements in Southern Iraq. I think I'll probably complain less after seeing this part of the world.
Not all sand, but it's still pretty dry.
Trees!
Kids waving to us as we fly by. We'll wave the aircraft back usually.
"Artsy" picture of the oil fires to the West of the airfield. I'm not sure that's all water, but it looks pretty cool whatever it is.
In Flight.
One of the best crews I flew with out here. The Air Force PJ's ran away before the picture, but 3 squadrons plus the USAF are represented in this crew. Fun day for us.
Life through a green lens at night.
Fueling up after a mission
I should rephrase my earlier statement... "Smoking" is a popular relaxation tool out here. Most of us only do it occasionally, but everyone has their own favorite method.
2 Beers on Super Bowl Sunday. Delicious.
Not actually any beer left in there, but I figured the can was worth keeping ;)
I got a rare and pretty exciting opportunity when our aircraft flew in formation with a AH-64 Apache up to Tallil for a Conference that our OIC had to attend. Mixed aren't uncommon if the mission needs it, but this kind of flight doesn't come around all that often for a Navy pilot to fly with something so unique. I feel pretty lucky to have been on the schedule for it, so I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to get some good pics!
A picture of why the air is so unhealthy here. Always somehting burning, and it's usually oil.
LCDR Chaney and me by our lead aircraft.
Armed.
Texans... some things never change.
Some parking lot furnature at the Apache base facilities.
"Crashed" airplaine near the refueling pits in Basrah
On the walk to work, I figured I should get some pictures of these for the people who don't see them driving around every day. MRAP's.
View of base. Our building is right about where my hat meets the horizon.
Mark and me riding from the aircraft to Maintenance Control before a flight.
Another night in the bunker. Got enough thin mints to last me though.
Nobody was too happy with the flash photography at 0130, but I think the picture is worth it.
Body armor/survival vest. At least we're not wearing the green stuff in the desert anymore!
We flew some people down who were rotating to the Kuwait station, and unfortunately the bad weather during the day got even worse at night, so we had to stay overnight at our old stomping grounds down south. Not a bad deal, but we were't exactly ready to sleep over, so we were definitely glad to get back the next morning.
And here's an example of the weather mentioned above.
From about 200yds away, you can barely see our aircraft
Looking at the sun becomes safe though, so we got that goin' for us...
Picture not doctored at all. Red sand blew in one morning and made the whole place look like mars. Break out the surgical masks, and try not to breathe.
View from the highest point I could find of our tents at Brady Lines.
Light at the end of the tunnel! :) Home in a few weeks.
More of the A-Team van. Right outside our buildings
Justin's and my room as it was upon arrival. Something had to be done.
