Where We Pick Up Your Trash

"Welcome to VBC CST, where we pick up your trash" or so goes the handwritten note scribbled atop the mouse pad at my desk.

Below is a picture from the staging lanes where I work.



As that message would indicate, one of the many tasks I have here is picking up the trash that convoys leave behind in our staging yard. In only a few short weeks here, I've come to realize how truly disgusting some people can be. I won't go into too much detail, but lets just say I've found bottles full of, uhmm, well. . .bodily discharges that I really don't care to deal with. I suppose that's how I really EARN my pay here.

A new kind of post

Well, I've decided that I'm going to try and update the blog as often as possible, now that I have a little more free time with my new job. So, this begins a new life for the blog, known as the "Picture of the Day" feature. As often as possible, I'm going to post a picture, and then describe the significance of it, and also give a little update about what's going on in my life. . .so, without any further waiting, here goes.


Posted above is a picture of my new workstation. As you can see, there is quite a bit going on here, so, I'll try and explain a little bit about what's going on. On the right hand side, you can see the green monitor. That monitor is attached to the "NIPR" computer. This computer is used to access, process, and store unclassified information. The computer on the left is the "SIPR" which, has access to the SIPRnet . A network used for accessing classified information. And no. . .you can't see anything classified in the pictures :-) On the far left . . . . .well, that's my personal computer. Have to have something to do when I get bored, right?

Well, that's what my office looks like at 4 in the morning. Until the next time. . .

Forty Hours

Forty hours ago, in the middle of a heavy rain storm, my ride north pulled in to the Victory Base Complex staging yard, signaling that I was finally at the end of my journey. The ride north was nothing, if uneventful.

After arriving in the staging lanes, I inspected all of my baggage, which rode outside of the vehicles throughout the rainstorm. Luckily for me, most of my electronics remained dry. Some of my clothes were a little damp, but nothing that a little airing out wouldn't fix. After unpacking and cleaning, I was given the day off to rest and prepare for the long day ahead. My shift was to begin at 6:30 AM and run until 6:30 PM. This means that I will be working 12 hours per day at least six days per week. Many weeks, It is quite likely that I will be working seven days per week. For those of you who are not math geniuses, that means I will be working anywhere from 72-84 hours per week. That is twice most American's normal work week.

Despite the long days, I think I will enjoy this position significantly more than my last job. Posted here are a few pictures of my new home and job.

The Army never fails to . . . .

Disappoint.

For the last two weeks, I have been attempting to leave Kuwait on a northbound convoy, and for the slightest few moments this morning, I almost escaped.

By the luck of the draw, I had managed to be assigned as a passenger with the crew that I used to go North with. I felt very blessed to ride with the people that I know and I'm friends with. Smith and myself spent nearly a half hour strapping down my boxes and bags in preparation for our departure. No sooner than I had handed my last bag into the cab of the truck, did my former platoon sergeant walk over to the truck and tell me, completely straight faced, that I would not be leaving today, and that I would need to pull all my bags off of the truck.

Needless to say I was quite angry over the incident, especially after I found out that reason I wasn't on the convoy. . .was that I had to take a mandatory E.O. class. So much for placing the 'mission first.' I'm quite interested to get on the road and see how different things are, or might be, now that control of the country's battlespace has been handed over to the Iraqi government. Luckily for me, there is another convoy leaving shortly, and I'll hop a ride on that one. So, until Baghdad. . .

The Only Constant in Life

Is change. . .

I've just returned from leave, and I found out that my deployment is getting turned upside down with a new job. Before I took my leave, I was a lead vehicle commander for my combat logistics patrol. Now, I found out that I'm going to be a shift NCOIC at one of the convoy support centers (CSC) in Iraq. Basically, I'll be in charge of making sure convoys are taken care of once they arrive on my post. That means arranging maintenance, coordinating loading and unloading of trucks, and supervising dozens of Third Country Nationals while they're parked in the CSC staging yard.

I'm pretty excited about this change, even if it is only for just shy of four months. I will be working 12 hours a day, and likely 6 days a week. That should keep me pretty busy, but during my time off, I will have my own 20'x8' room all to my self! I look forward to arriving, and I'll be sure to post pictures when I get there.

Until next time. . .