FRUSTRATIONS

Ever get to that point where you just want to say screw it and throw your hands up, I'm almost at that point.  The last couple of weeks have been a true test of my military bearing. I'm at a point of the deployment where nothing can go right.  I've got Soldiers that have lost their freaking minds and think they can do what ever they want.  I don't remember in all of my military career of a time when Soldiers had such disrespect for the military in general.  Someone give me the strength and military bearing to survive the next couple weeks until I get out of here.  I'm not getting the support I need by the command I'm attached to right now and my higher command is gunning for me it seems like.  Luckily I have a great Company Commander and First Sergeant that knows what I'm capable of doing but.  The command I'm attached to sees it if to email my higher every time some little thing goes wrong with one of my Soldiers.  This in turn gets Brown out of proportion and I can not do my job to fix it before it gets out of control.  I guess that's the difference between the Army and the Navy, in the Army we trust our NCOs to fix and solve problems.........

I know I haven't blogged as much as I said I was going to but I feel better just venting here.

Lake Ghoubet

Today we ventured out to Lake Ghoubet for some snorkeling.  We had a blast and got to see what Djibouti is really all about.  We saw a lot of mountains a couple valcano's, an over abundant amount of lava rock. While snorkeling I got to see some nice colorful fish & coral.  We moved a couple times to different locations and saw even more.  We were on the beach and a sting ray swam right up to the shore.  I think I had more fun taking pictures then actually snorkeling.  I added a few of them here for you guys to see.  Over all great day, but back to work tomorrow.

Paul Wall the peoples champ

Had a nice day relaxing got to check out the lay of the land and catch up on some rest. 

This place its diffently a money pit which I'm going to have to try and avoid.  The NEX is packed full of a bunch of good stuff, none of which I need or want until I get my CLU (which is soon hopefully). 

Tonight the great Texas boy Paul Wall showed up on put on a show.  He did a whole 8 or 9 songs then he was done.  Afterwards he did a meet and greet with everyone so people got to get autographs & pictures taken with him.  I liked a couple of the songs he did, at least the beer was cold.  Yes I said beer and not any of that near-beer crap.

Well I'm going to pass out.  I've got a somewhat busy day tomorrow.

Here are a coupe pictures from tonight. 

Made it to Africa

Wow what a long trip I've had over the past couple days. Honestly it doesn't feel like I'm in Africa. I finally am able to sit down and relax for a couple minutes before I'm going to try and go to bed.  This 9 hr time change is going to take a couple days to get used to again.  The weather is nice its in the 70's right now but its humid. 

Tomorrow starts my work out regiment.  The people I'm here with are going to keep me honest as will I for them.  I need to stay away from excessive eatting because I'm bored but hopefully I won't have enough time to get bored over here. 

Tomorrow also will let me get out and explore the camp and find out what fun and interesting things it has to offer.  Pictures will be able to be posted tomorrow hopefully. 

On the bad side I'm stuck in a tent with a bunch a guys right now while I wait for a CLU to open up.  It will be nice since Ill get to live alone the whole time I'm here and also not have to use a communal bathroom.

What a Weekend

Well I made to Houston and back for the weekend.  Went down early on Friday and was able to head to Galveston and hang out on the beach and do a little fishing before I had to be at Drill early Saturday morning.  We went over a lot of pre-pre mobilization training to get done which took all day on Saturday ruining any chance of me making it back down to the coast to do some more fishing.  I finally left the office around 8:00 last night went and grabed some dinner then off to bed for another early morning today.  Today we had family day and a lot of soldiers brought there families so they could learn some about our up coming deployment.  First we had a Tricare brief which was very bennifical to us because we found out that we're now eligible for full Active Duty medical benifits so that means no more paying for insurance for almost 2 years which will save us a whole lot of money to put other places.  My company commander was in Africa last week checking out where we are going to be living and working.  Let me say this is going to be just like being back on active duty but just in a different country.  First thing she said is that its ef'n hot over there, with the heat index it was about 130f.  We found out about what kinda missions we could possibly be doing just not exactly which one.  As far as living conditions we found out that I will have my own CLU which now has Free Cable, and they're in the process of putting telephones in all the rooms for local service.  Internet in the room is kinda expensive but well worth it to be able to keep in contact with Chriss and the Perfect Head baby.  They a have 24 hr gym which is nice since once the temperature gets to hot outside in the morning no one is allowed to do PT outside. 

Going off the camp is a very regular thing and not just for work.  Going on the town shopping, dinner etc is very common which is something we will have to get use to after being in Iraq my last 2 deployments. 

Food is something that is very readily available with having an almost 24 hr chow hall oh wait sorry its a Galley, I have to get used to Navy terms.  They also have a 2nd cafe open for all 3 meals a day.

We did find out that there will be a 96hr pass that is available to Paris, Spain, Italy, or to go on a Safari.  So Chriss and I will be meeting in Rome, Italy at some time while I'm there.

Mail takes a long time to get there.  On average its taking anywhere from 4 weeks up to 2 months to get there.  But there is Fed Ex and DHL is moving in.  Fed Ex will literally deliver to my CLU.

The last slide in the Power Point slide show was about the on camp bar.  The soldiers got all excited when they were told the legal drinking age is 18 while in country.  There is a 3 drink limit a night so hopefully there won't be to many incidents. 

After all that the company had a great BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs.  They had a bounce house set up for the kids to enjoy and had a raffle for a couple prizes of which was half the pot of the raffle money.  $420.00 were raised for the FRG of which $210.00 were raffled off which one of our young soldiers mother won and ended up donating all of it back to the companies FRG fund for future use. 

Over all it was a great weekend and I'm ready for next month but I have a lot of work to do between now and then.

1 weekend a month my ass!!!!

Extra, Extra read all about it

I was sitting here reading different blog's about Africa and though that it would be a great way for me to let everyone know what's going on with my deployment to the Horn of Africa.  For those of you who have been through my past deployments you know, I don't have a lot of contact with the outside world.  What phone contact I will have, will be with Chriss. This blog will be my way of letting everyone know what's going on in my life. Also those of you who have been through my past deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan this will be nothing like those.  I can't get into the mission too much but just know its not a combat mission at all.  Also my job as a Platoon Sergeant I have 34 people working for me so that means I'm in an administrative roll for the deployment.  I would love to go out and do the fun stuff but I've passed that point in my career. Stuff I know so far about where I'm going is that I will have my own CHU which is a conex box that is turned into a living area with A/C and Internet, I will have to share a bathroom with my neighbor but it should be very comfortable.  There are a lot of trips that are offered which I would like to partake in a couple because who knows the next time I'll be in Africa.   Some of the trips are scuba diving in the Gulf of Aden, beach trips, casino trips, and the best one so far is being able to go on a safari.  I'm really excited about the oppurtunity to do this and see this part of the world.  I will miss Chriss & Audrey like crazy but will have Skype to keep us together and if anyone else has Skype that will be the best way to get ahold of me and I won't have to pay for phone service.  I will try and update my blog with happenings of my predeployment stuff and during my whole time in Africa.  I will upload pictures of my life from now until after I get back home.  Until next time I'm off for now.