Wow, what a journey.  I think its Tuesday but I am not quite sure.  Leaving Friday from Fort Benning, traveling 22 hours to Kuwait, sleeping overnight at Ali Al Salem airbase, flying on a C 17 to Bagram and spending the night.  I then choppered out the next afternoon to Kabul and convoyed into Camp Phoenix.  A long journey, but at times, very interesting and exciting.  The only negatives were not knowing when your next flight would be (due to sand storms) and carrying 3 duffle bags, a large ruck and a backpack.  You just have to take one or two bags at a time and come back for the others.  That’s why everyone tells us to pack as light as possible.  I certainly get it now.

The flight from Kuwait to Bagram was very cool.  If you have ever seen the Marine Corps email about what’s inside a can of whoop ass, then you know exactly what it was like.  Straight back seats along the sides of the plane (C 17) and no beverage service (haha).  The flight lasted about 4 hours and the landing was spectacular.  I think it’s called a combat landing.  Unlike a gradual descent in a commercial flight, I felt like we were going straight down (it’s a good thing I heard one of the soldiers talking about the landing before take off).  Once I got to Bagram, one of the Staff Sergeants from the unit I am stationed with picked me up and to took me to my sleeping quarters.  On the way, we pulled up next to the flight line and watched two F 15 fighter jets take off with their after burners burning the night air like a Saturn rocket.  The speed, the sound and the white/blue jet exhaust was spectacular.  The next morning, I was dropped off at the chopper pad hoping to catch a bird to Camp Phoenix.  No luck but another sergeant I had been talking to for a while suggested I go with his group to Kabul and convoy to Phoenix (15 minutes away).  There was no guarantee that Phoenix had any convoys rolling but I lucked out.  I was picked up by two heavy armored Suburbans with very large and fully armed MPs.  The doors weighed about two hundred pounds and were difficult to open if you didn’t really lean into them.  One of the soldiers gave me ammo for my weapon and off we went zigzagging our way through the streets of Kabul.  The two Suburbans were in constant radio contact and running interference for one another like a pulling guard leading a running back in a football game.  There was no stopping for ANYTHING!  It was hard to concentrate on the sights but after a few minutes, I was finally able to appreciate the fact that I WAS in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.  The strange dress, the dead carcasses hanging from tin sheath stalls, and chaos surrounding us made the trip the most unforgettable journey of my life.  Once we arrived at Camp Phoenix, I was defibrillated and brought to the welcome center and greeted with how was your trip.  Again, I think that all happened on Monday.

This entire week has been a blur.  I have met so many people that I thought I was running for a political office.  Everyone has been very helpful getting me squared away.  Today, I put the Brigade Surgeon I am replacing on a bird back to Bagram for the first leg of his journey home.  It can take anywhere from 4 days to two weeks to get back based on available flights and open seats.  There are so many soldiers and civilian contractors coming and going all the time.  Tomorrow, Sunday, will be a busy day for me.  We work 7 days a week (there are no weekends in war) and I need to dive into my responsibilities. 

We have approximately 8,640 soldiers in the Kabul Base Cluster (KBC) and 3,200 are stationed here at Camp Phoenix. It’s a very high tempo base providing tremendous support for all the soldiers in the brigade.

Yesterday, I was invited ( a weekly meeting where I need to present the medical condition of the brigade) to the general staff meeting and got an inside view of how an army works from intel to payroll.  I was introduced to all the Field Grade Officers (Majors, Lieutenant Colonels, and Colonels) by our commanding general.  According to the General, I am the oldest soldier in the brigade!

I would like to finish this “blog” with my sincere belief that it is such a tremendous honor and privilege to serve my country along side some of the most incredible young men and women I have ever met.  Their sacrifice (leaving young families, parents, friends, and spouses for a year) humbles me and motivates me to do my best for them and our country.