*lunch time*

Lunch at the Afghani mans house.

"attitude"

I’m on my third overseas deployment, almost 22 years old, and only recently I am able to put in text what kind of person I am. These past few months I have had a rush of realization (we can thank the Navy for that). This is who I am, what I desire, and where I see myself in the near future.

My personality is intimidating. I am a very strong willed female, with more goals than a man ten years older than me. I know what I want out of life, and it kills others to see me with a sturdy head on my shoulders. If I put my mind to something, I get it done. Don’t bother trying to break me down; I’ll just laugh at you.

My poker face is deadly. It may look like I am pissed at the world when you see me walking down the street, when in reality I’m thinking about what I want to cook for dinner.

Networking does not work for me. I know that by networking you create a web of people who can help you in the future, but I strongly disagree with this concept. It works for others, but it will never work for me. I believe that you should only be hired for a position because of what is on your resume, not because of who you know. Don’t try to convince me otherwise, I’ll look at you stupid.

Socialization is a waste of my time. If I enjoy spending time with you, I will give you my undivided attention. I can’t carry on a conversation with you if I’m not interested in what you have to say. I can’t fake interest; my facial expressions get a hold of me. I would rather stay at home then go to a party.

You cannot criticize me if I do not respect you. You better be shit hot before you have an opinion about what I am doing. Don’t even think about judging me if you haven’t done it already. And if you’re fat, you might as well not even open your mouth. You lost my respect the second I looked at you.

I speak my mind, with no tact whatsoever. I keep saying I’m trying to work on it, but how do you speak your mind with tact? I tell the truth, the honest truth that no one wants to hear. I love the military but I can’t conform to what he military expects me to be. You need to network, socialize with all the right people, and never have an opinion.

Desires. Right now, my only desire is to get back to the United States and work on my education. I want my Bachelors degree in criminal justice. As soon as I get my degree and meet the prerequisites for the FBI, I’ll be submitting a package for linguistics. After I start working full time, I’m going to take college part time to attain my Masters. Education should never stop, there’s always more to learn.

Before I leave Afghanistan I hope to save enough money to get me started (as a civilian!).

:)

ECRC * Week 3 Day 15-19

Day 15 - Hands on practicals
04FEB08

The beginning of this day started with hands on training with radio communications. These radios are about 13 inches long and 5 inches thick. They aren’t your typical radio. After that we were able to put our close quarter’s combat training to use. We cleared a building used for training. After that we were given a visual demonstration on how to stand an ECP (entry control point) at our bases. Last but not least, convoy training!

Day 16 - Convoy practical
05FEB08

The day started with weapons cleaning, lang navigation, and then we marched to he convoy preperation point. We were briefed on our objective of the mission, and organized our plan of attack (or plan of defense...). This evolution was about three hours long...it was our first chance to be in an actual convoy. For training purposes during the convoy we were given blank rounds for the M16’s and the SAW that was mounted on the HUMV’s. We drove through a route that was setup for us. On the route our drill seargants planted IED’s, and had insurgents (the bad guys) with weapons attacking us. We needed to react in the same manner we would have in theater. After the convoy evolution our drill sergeants concluded the mission and told us what we did right, and what we did wrong. So that changes could be made in the future.

Day 17 - Motivation run
06FEB08

The morning started out with PT. This PT was special, it was our graduation run; the last day that we would have the privilege of PT'ing at Camp McCrady. After PT went to the armory to turn in our BFA (blank firing adapter) and our blue magazine (used for blank rounds). We then received weapons cases to transport them to outside the country. The weapons case has four locks on it, and you receive one case for each weapon. We also had an option to take just an M16 case for both the M16 and M9. Later in the day all of the students were mustered up into the training classroom to give input on what changes could be made to the training to better prepare us for deployment. At the end of the day we went to do more EST training.

Day 18 - Convoy training....again...
07FEB08

We mustered for chow around 0630, and walked over to the gym soon after for more convoy training. Later in the day we went over to the LNO (navy liasion office) to pick up our medical records. Classes were secured at 1100 and we were set free until Friday around 1200.

Day 19 - Last Day
08FEB08

Liberty was secured around 1200 to ensure that everyone would be packed and ready for the flight. Packing took around five hours for the most of us. Some of us took even longer than that. The average number of seabags (or duffel bags) we all had was four. Somehow a few people squeezed their gear into three bags. We are to wear our uniform on the flight, and we can bring one carry on item with us.

ECRC * Week 2 Day 8-14

Day 8 - Recovery Techniques
28JAN08

Monday was actually a short day. We did PT (physical training) @0600 in the morning and followed up on medical screenings after. The medical screenings were only to ensure you were up to date with all your vaccinations (i.e. smallpox, anthrax). After the screenings we went to lunch at the DFAC and mustered for class on recovery techniques. This class was given to teach you how to bring an injured person into a safe area or building.

Day 9 - M16 Qualification
29JAN08

This qualification course was on a similar range to the one we used on Day 5. The only difference was that we were able to see the targets a lot better. The targets were white instead of green, making it much easier to spot at a distance. After the qualification course we were taken to a location in the woods and given a map and compass. They told us to go find plots on the map, and find our way back in 2 hours. Some of us got lost...most of us didn't make it to all of our points on the map...and some of us just gave up.

Day 10 - Death by PP
30 JAN08

In the morning we had PT, followed with DEATH by power point! The topic was recovery of isolated personnel. In other words, how to make it through a situation where you might be taken hostage, detained, kidnapped, or you were just separated from your unit and how to recover from it. After lunch we had two more classes regarding IED (innovated explosive device), and cultural awareness. In the cultural awareness class we were given information on what to do and not to do in the country you would be deploying to.

Day 11 - Heavy Weapons!
31JAN08

On heavy weapons day we were trained on the M240, MARK19, SAW, and 50 CAL. After the heavy weapons range we went to another M16 range for a stress shoot and reflexive fire. The stress shoot was the same as the PWC for the M9.

Day 12 - Convoy training
01FEB08

PT was at 0500 today, followed by chow at 0700 and class at 0800. The training was on convoys, and close quarters combat training. The close quarters combat training was to teach us how to clear a building with the quickness. After lunch we were taken to EST (electronic simulations training) building. After EST we were given a liberty call brief and released to the world for a weekend.

Day 13-14
02-03FEB08
Liberty call, liberty call!

ECRC * Week 1 Day 1-7

Majority of the people here flew in on a Saturday. Saturday we were given the opportunity to settle in a little bit, and Sunday we had a small brief about what was expected of us throughout this training period. The brief lasted about three-four hours and we were cut loose for the day.



Day 1 - Processing Day

Our first day started with processing, we were issued gear (three seabags), sleep system, and sent back to the barracks. The three seabags consisted of gear such as IBA, Kevlar helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, beanie cap, winter boots, summer boots, long johns, underwear, bra's, first aid kit, and much much more.



*Our barracks is an open bay building with roughly 30 bunk bed style racks in them. Each bunk bed has 2 wall lockers and 2 foot lockers (one for each). They are equipped to accommodate 60 people (on one side), and 60 people on the adjacent side. The two buildings are connected by the latrine (head). The latrine offers 5 shower heads that are in open bay style, 5 toilets separated by stalls (amazingly enough), 3 washers, 3 dryers, and 5 sinks. The building that I am in is for 0-4 and below, and E-8 and below females. E-9 and O-5 and above females are berthed in individual spaces.


Soon after gear issue we were informed on weapon safety and nomenclature for our weapons. We also had to sign paperwork informing us that once we were issued this weapon it was our responsibility to maintain accountability at all times. In my platoon (roughly 40 personell) were all issued an M16, and 10 of us (including myself) were also issued an m9. Out of the 10 people issued the M16, only 5 of us will be taking the m16 and the m9 into theatre (including myself). The weapons that we are taking into theatre are called "go to war weapons" and the others are considered "loaner" weapons. These weapons are ours until we return them after our deployment.

*For the people that were issued both weapons, they are expected to qualify in both. UNLESS the second weapon is not a go to war weapon. If you recieved a loaner M16 you weren't expected to qualify on the M16. Whether you were qualifying or not, everyone is expected to shoot (except for the Chaplain).

Day 2 - M16

The day started with an early chow time at the DFAC (galley). We were individually assigned to a simulator that assisted us in Zeroing in our M16a2 assault rifle. The rifle was connected to a series of wires that was connected to the computer. The computer was connected to the screen that had targets on them. The rifle would simulate a shot on the screen that you were aiming at, and this in turn showed you where you were aiming was at. The objective was to create a tight grouping with three rounds.

Day 3 - M16 and M9 Range

When we left camp McCrady we headed for the range at Fort Jackson, the drive was about 40 minutes and it was still dark outside when we arrived. The purpose of being at this range was to Zero in your rifle. Each individuals rifle was zero'd differently. This allowed us to continuously shoot 3 rounds at a time to maintain a consistent grouping.

Each person was expected to Zero there rifle in. Soon after the M16 shoot we cleaned our weapons and then qualified on the M9. After the qualification we cleaned our M9's. In between shoots classes were given to show us how to operate a HUMV, use our gas masks, and wear MOP gear.

Day-4 M16 -LOMAH

My platoon was the first ones to be awake, we went to the range and shot first so that we could monitor the next round of shooters. The LOMAH (Location of Misses and Hits) range was used to show the shooter where he was shooting, so that if he was too low or too high over the target he could make minor adjustments. The targets were placed at 75/150/300 meters. Each shooter was granted 9 clips for 3 sets of fire. The course was in three different positions; the kneeling position, prone supported, and prone unsupported. We received a hot lunch (special occasion??!) and cleaned our weapons after shooting. We left the LOMAH range around 1700 and headed over to another range to qualify in low-light/night fire shooting. Once the sun started to go down each person shot their M16 and M9.

Day 5 - M9 PWC and M16

The M9'ers were sent to a different range to qualify on the practical weapons course (pwc). This course consists of running from one barrier to another. When arriving to the barrier you jump into the prone position and shoot from behind the barrier, or jump into the kneeling position and shoot from behind the barrier. This course had a three minute time limit, and was done in full battle rattle (all IBA).

The M16'ers went to a range that was used to shoot at targets that popped up for 3-4 seconds. The distances were set at 50/100/150/200/250/300 meters. The first two courses of fire were slick (no IBA), and the third course had IBA. This was our pre-qual day to help us see where we are at for the actual qualification day.

In between the shoots we were sent to two classes. One class was heavy weapons, where we learned about nomenclature for the MARK 19 and SAW. The second class was a reaction shoot. We shot blank rounds into our targets to test our reaction time (switching safety to off on and bringing your weapon up with the quickness).

Day 6 - Death by powerpoint

Two classes were given today First Aid (combat lifesaver techniques), radio communications and basic map plotting (land navigation).

Day 7- LIBERTY CALL LIBERTY CALL :)

Smallpox Vaccination

I'm going to Afghanistan, and to protect me in every way that they (the U.S. government) can, they immunize me with everything. When I say everything, I mean everything. The two shots that I did receive that I will never forget will be the Smallpox vaccination, and anthrax. I say anthrax because it's a series of 6 or so shots. As of now I'm on my third shot, and they aren't that painful. The first or second shot was an eyeopener, but after that it's just like any other 'normal' shot. I say that it was an eyeopener because when you leave the clinic you think, "oh, that wasn't that bad!". But an hour or so later...you get re-flashes. Your arm kinda of stings and it's sore, and this re-flash sensation lasts about two days. After the first two shots I haven't felt any side effects really.

The smallpox vaccination...I almost regret allowing them to shoot me up with this vaccination. But in the end I know it might save my life. After the first 5 days I received the shot it was a breeze. That was my 'vacation' week from the smallpox. On day six a small clean blister appeared up on my skin. This wasn't painful, it just itched really bad. Without paying complete attention, I would scratch the living hell out of the tiny blister causing it to swell up. Day seven it continues to itch but my lymph nodes around my upper arm were swollen and sore. I had bad maneuverability and couldn't carry much weight with my left arm. Day eight most of the itching went away, and my arm was starting to feel better as far as the swollen lymph nodes go. But this is where the headaches came in....After day seven I've had headaches that don't go away. I've been taking 800mg ibuprofen twice a day and this headache is restless. This is the first time that I feel nauseous from the pressure built up in my head... I can't even sleep at night (hence the reason I'm posting a blog at 0500 in the morning).

Japan

Everything I wanted to do while I was in Japan, I did. I went to Kyoto, Kamikura, Tokyo, Yokohama, Hiroshima, Nikko, Hakone, Miyajima Island, Ueno, and a dozen other areas. My favorite place in Japan, was Kyoto. Kyoto is the most traditional area in Japan and is extremely beautiful.

Kinkakuji Temple

Tenmangu Temple , Kyoto