Irony

I was functionally living in close to the same time zone as I was back home by virtue of my night shift hours. And yet, I'm pretty sure this trip back is going to completely mess up my system and leave me with some jet lag. We'll see how it works out.
I planned ahead this time and packed some MREs in my bag to take with me for the flight. I also brought my headset to use for the noise instead of foamies so I wouldn't have to stick anything in my ears for long hours. In theory it was a good idea, but my ears got sweaty and it made lying down uncomfortable. Live and learn.
I guess I should probably prepare some type of grand summation post as this experience draws to a close, but the only thing really ending right now is my own personal immediate involvement. I'll think more about it and share more once I get back and there is less time context to my musings.
Since I've been asked via email and know I'll be asked again, President Bush's assertions regarding the current status of Al Qaeda in Iraq and its relationship to the Al Qaeda organization that lay people think about are accurate. Poorly articulated, but accurate. If I couldn't back that up with open source reporting, I wouldn't be posting it.
I'm not claiming that Al Qaeda had a foothold in Iraq pre-2003 or absolving our poor planning of being an enabler. I'm just talking about the situation as it stands now. That said, as you can see in the news, the AQ Iraq franchise is not doing so well anymore. Great irony of ironies I guess is that the very organization that was initially able to grow due to our own naivete/incompetence is now the very lever we are using to bring groups back together.

I can't help myself

Every time I make some training plans, no matter how reasonable, they fall apart. The bureaucracy is slow and incompetent when rapid action is needed. Funding isn't there. Something.
But I'm trying again anyway. I've gotten course schedules, word that funding is there, and that the schools are now authorized. I've found dates that can get me to most without major interference with my schoolwork. Now I'm just waiting for the plan to be sabotaged. Still, it will all come, if not necessarily on the ideal schedule or my terms, it will come. Of that I am now confident.
I remember back in college watching a movie with the lovely young woman who would become my wife and some friends. Well, my wife didn't watch because she hates war movies. Anyway, I mentioned in conversation that I'm going to work with the people depicted in that movie. I'm just about there. I've worked for some of them, but with the training, I'll actually be able to work with them.
To avoid any guessing as to what movie it was, let us say it was the Barry Bostwick classic "Megaforce."
If you're curious, the man responsible for preventing my training this past year has managed to get himself to yet another training school. Apparently money and slots only exist for him. This will catch up with him. Everyone in the community will know that he is a selfish badge-chasing hack. Hopefully it will come out before he is forced to deploy (I'm sure that is one opportunity he'll hide from as long as possible) and gets someone hurt.

Loose Ends

Finally got a chance to clean the weapons I shot. I brought my own cleaning kit as an afterthought. It turned out to be a good idea. I got both the pistol and rifle really clean. I don't think the pistol had been cleaned in a while--though they don't need it as often.
This past range visit was less productive than planned due to an ammunition mix up. We don't own the range and are therefore supposed to bring our own ammo from our unit. Last time I went it was with someone from the unit that owns that range so they let it slide. Oh well.
We still got to shoot and now we know. Ammo, as you can imagine, is plentiful, just need to pull from a different supply. It's fair.
I still learned some good drills and go to shoot new and improved M4 variant. Not a total loss.

I tried watching some of the You Tube debate on CNN, but got annoyed after a bunch of people used the words "UN Peacekeepers" and "immediate action" in the same sentence regarding Darfur. Then someone recommended a standing UN Peacekeeping force. I'd first ask the candidates how effective highly trained western peacekeepers were at Srebenica, then ask them who will donate these blue hatted impotent wonders. Finally, I'd ask them why it is they can advocate choosing sides in that civil war, but not in the the civil war they see in Iraq.
Don't get me wrong, dead Janjaweed would be fine with me. Some people just need to be shot and they are firmly on that list. But personal satisfaction aside, there needs to be a coherent plan. You'd think we'd realize that by now.
I decided to watch "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" on the movie channel instead. It could have been a Harry Potter movie and would have been more realistic.

Range Again

Back to range soon. Free ammunition, range time, and weapons make for better training opportunities than I'm likely to find as a traditional Guardsman. On top of that, I get to shoot with some of the best, which makes for learning opportunities that can't be missed.
Shooting really is a small part of my job, but when it is needed, being good is rather important.
This time again I've chosen the old-school M-4. It only has the basic iron sights, no scopes, batteries, lasers, or other gadgets. Just fundamentals. It's funny that not having all sorts of toys tacked to my rifle is different now.
They're available and I could double the weight of the weapon with accessories, but that's not my goal at the moment.
I understand that people back home are trying to guess at various clues as to when I'll be home. Good luck. I'm making plans but even I can do no more than make an educated guess. I'm pretty sure when I'm leaving this place though.

Coined

I got coined. It was a great honor after my brief one night that the commander told everyone the he wanted to be sure to give me a coin to recognize my work. Sure enough, during this last shift he came over shook my hand, gave me his coin, and said I was one of the best weathermen he's ever had. Now that tells me that either he says it to everyone or hasn't had many weathermen, but it felt good just the same.
People in this community, especially with the commander's background, aren't too prone to hyperbole or empty compliments though, so I'm proud of it. The coin is more meaningful and personal than any medal or decoration I'm going to get.
Weather isn't my passion, but it is the specialty I ended up with and I'm glad I was able to contribute period.

I can't get over the irony that if I had remained on active duty then I would still be sitting in a stateside office supporting stateside training with no growth potential for two more years. In the past year I've had opportunities that few will ever have or even know about.

I was glad to hear that my unit back home did well at our recent inspection. Also found out that the training we've been waiting on will be available. We'll see if it happens.

So there I was...

There I was in the bathroom, minding my own business, when I heard it. That unmistakable whining buzz that only grows louder as it approaches. When you hear it, it's too late.
Yes. A mosquito.
It got me just as I was flossing. Right in the middle of my back. I tried to slap at it, tearing my floss in the process and cutting off circulation to my fingers, but missed. I'll survive.

I saw my neighbor on the news at a press conference. That's always fun. My neighbor was asking an official with hair an 80's rockstar would envy a question. I don't remember if it was answered. Words were spoken, but that's about it.

Lou Dobbs makes me sad. If I could just drink the kool-aid and believe him when he blames all my problems on figureheads and "others," I'd be in a better mood.
They really need to change the channel in here.

Salute

I saw on the news that Gen. Wayne Downing died. A former commander at multiple levels of the Ranger Regiment, JSOC, and USSOCOM, his contributions were many. It's unfortunate that it has gotten so little coverage. RLTW.

Not much new on my end. Staying focused, though it takes more effort than at the beginning. We made some good calls and got some ops going. It is a good feeling that they will hold or launch on my word. Sure the weather guy is an easy target,
but the trust is there.

One thing is making me very nervous. Almost scared. My wife has not only named the kittens she found living in our backyard, she has given them knicknames for their names, and sent me pictures of them in which I can clearly see the bowl of food she put out for them.