Vacation from 'Home'

Vacation from “Home”

Let me just start off saying that I absolutely love my job! I wish that this job was something that I did all the time. I enjoy it so much because it is different. The job is never stagnant. There is something new happening all the time. I receive problems all day long and I see them as opportunities to learn something new, and to help people out in whatever way that I can. I really enjoy it. I hear random things all day, and several times I have said, “You know, I have never dealt with this issue before but let me see what I can find out for you!” And, then I start the mission of figuring it out- love it!

So, I was presented with an opportunity a week or so ago. We are in the process of building up this camp that we are living in order to accommodate more Soldiers to live here. We are also in the process of a diplomatic move, and working side-by-side with the Lithuanian Army and the Engineers are building a compound for them. So, in order to do this, we need supplies. We need materials and tools. The Engineers are absolutely outstanding and have been able to do most of the work, but considering the fact that we are in Afghanistan, they don’t have everything they need right in front of them. So, I was told that another location was closing down and they were willing to allow me to take whatever I would like. So, instead of just me going, I took two subject matter experts (an electrician and plumber)- outstanding guys!

We started our adventure early that morning- and sat for 3 hours as we waited for the convoy to show up to pick us up. We were split up into three different trucks, and I was in the front truck. The Soldiers I rode with were the Military Police (MPs) and they were very good to me. They hooked up a headset for me so that I could listen to everything that was happening. As we drove along, they would tell me things about what we saw. We saw Afghan police stations, farmers, a farmers market type deal, a canal that runs through the city, and the location they drop our black water (gross!) We arrived safe and sound, and it was good to arrive on site. As soon as we got on ground, we walked to the headquarters building, let them know we were on their COP and asked where we would be staying. We dropped our stuff off in our rooms (and my room was nicer than the one I have here on Walton) and then we went and had lunch.

This COP is experiencing the downsizing, and this was the first day it had taken affect. The change was the civilians were no longer going to be maintaining their FOB (the MWR, the DFAC etc). So, MRE’s were for lunch! It wasn’t bad, I had tuna and we watched TV as we ate. While we were eating, the DFAC Soldiers found out that the two guys I was with were Engineers and began asking them to build them something! SGT Gabrielle and SGT O’Conner said they knew that was going to happen, it was only a matter of time. But, being the good guys they are, they took the specs for the door the Soldiers were asking them to build and said they would be back after dinner.

After lunch, we went to the DynCorp compound to being looking at their excess material and started saying what we wanted, and what we didn’t have a need for. This is an example of where the government wastes so much money. If someone didn’t claim these items, they would be sent higher, and either be sent to another FOB (hopefully) or be destroyed. We are talking about brand new tools in boxes, connexes full of construction materials, water heaters, and in some really sad cases, 50inch TVs for example! But, that’s another matter! J So, we inventoried and selected 4-5 connexes of items.

Following that, SGT Gabrielle, SGT O’Conner and myself went to their little gazebo and just sat. The breeze was blowing, it was warm but not too warm, drank some cold water and they smoked cigarettes and we just relaxed. We don’t really get that time here on Walton. There is just too much happening. We then decided to meet up for dinner a couple hours later. The guys went and took a nap, and I went to the MWR and went to klove.com and downloaded the latest, greatest Christian songs. I just don’t have that free time at Walton- so it was amazing to get some new music! We then met up for dinner at the DFAC. DynCorp had ordered about 3 weeks of food, but the Soldiers had to cook it. It was SO delicious. We had cordon bleu, vegetables, little cheesecakes and of course, Dr. Pepper! After that, I went and showered and had the best shower I have had the entire deployment. The water pressure was outstanding, it was hot and the shower curtains even had little flowers on them J It is absolutely the small things. I then went to the DFAC and hung out with the guys as they built this door for the DFAC. We then proceeded to watch “A beautiful mind” – phenomenal movie! But, we didn’t finish it because they were too tired J

I then got to spend some awesome time with my friend, Jayni! She lives on that COP! She works night shift at the Entry Control Point, so there we were, a couple girls, sitting in the Entry Control Point with little cheesecakes, soda and having girl talk J We were up talking until 0130, and it was much needed. It is so incredibly cool to have such a close female friend deployed with you, and it brings you back to home, even just for a few hours. Just for a few hours, things are normal and the way they are supposed to be. It was wonderful.

We got up the next day, the guys got a gator and picked up all my kit and bags so I didn’t have to carry it, and I got breakfast and we made our way to the convoy brief. Convoy briefs talk about any significant actions the past few days, the mission, battle drills, and the route. We then kitted up, got into our trucks and headed ‘home.’ This crew wasn’t near as hospitable as the first, if I do say so myself! J But, we made it back safely and that is all that matters. As we drove, I watched the crazy traffic outside, the vehicle in front of us, and the gunner as he continually scanned his sector. These Soldiers (no matter how kind or hospitable they are or aren’t) are daily risking their lives. They daily put their bulletproof kits on, scan their sectors, and drive to the next mission. May God continue to protect them!

Shurandam is where we went, and it was small. They only had internet in the MWR, there wasn’t much happening and it was incredibly relaxing. It was a vacation away from ‘home.’ We didn’t have emails to check, bosses to answer to, questions to answer, or phones to answer. It was peaceful. We didn’t want to leave. But, every new day is a day closer to our real home. Happy for this little adventure I took with these two awesome Soldiers.