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14 Aug 2009
Internet Available in Basra living areas
After 9 months in Basra, I finally have my own Internet connection! The COB has awarded an Iraqi-based company, Al Dalham, with a contract for wireless and wired Internet service. They have several bandwidth options, but the common plan seems to be 128K for $70/month.
Several visits to their office, and lots of trying to connect, revealed there was just too much spectrum interference for me to use wifi. So the manager dispatched these two young men, who quickly set up a receiver, spliced the Cat V cable, and configured my IP addresses to have a wired connection.
I was impressed. But for my readers that are headed to Basra, be patient! It took about 2 weeks of me working with the Al Dalham team, showing them my problems, and patiently returning time after time.
They're on a learning curve, but I'll say this: they're learning fast. I expect it's already twice as good as when I bought in two weeks ago.
There was some give and take, too. I helped proof-read some of their marketing material, and I escorted one of their technicians out to the antenna that was giving me trouble.
So in the big picture, how does this mirror the growth and progress in Iraq? Very well, I think.
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ACI , Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  04:30 | permalink | trackbacks [1283]



29 Jul 2009
Happy Anniversary, Lisa!
Today marks our 20th Anniversary. Lisa and I are enjoying a fantastic marriage, but certainly this deployment will be an interruption we won't forget.

On our 10th anniversary, Ethan was just 5 months old, so we mutually decided to postpone a celebration vacation until our 11th anniversary! So now on our 20th, the decision to postpone a vacation has been made for us.

There were two small things I could do to celebrate my wonderful bride. In Christiansburg, I rented the local flower shop's sign:

I sent her flowers, too, but I couldn't hang those on the sign!

In Basra, I made coordination back in June to fly my own US Flag over the Division Headquarters in honor of the occasion. They have a program for this, and Major General Nash provided a very nice certificate recognizing our anniversary. I coordinated to be the one to hoist it, so my day started at 7am, raising this flag over the 34th Division Headquarters, Coalition Operating Base Basra.

Notice I'm squinting: the sun's up at 4:30am, so by 7am, it's not only bright, but hot!

So, to Lisa,
It has been the best 20 years a guy good hope for- and more. It still feels like the beginning of our marriage, because there's so much more ahead of us. I love you deeply. and I owe you one heck of a great vacation! How about we go someplace with lots of water?
 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  05:02 | permalink | trackbacks [387]



28 Jul 2009
Advisory and Assistance Brigades
I saw this article and recognized several important points:

  1. Secretary gates visited Tallil, where the 287th is headquartered.

  2. The Advisory and Assistance Brigade concept is the next step in both US withdrawal and Iraqi economic development.

  3. Artillerymen are more than just cannoncockers.





By Capt. John Landry 4th BCT, 1st Armd. Div.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates paid a visit to Soldiers of 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division. The "Highlander" Soldiers garnered the Pentagon's attention because they are developing future doctrine as the U.S. Army's proof of principle for the "advisory and assistance" brigade [AAB] mission, spearheading the transition of U.S. forces in Iraq to a full-time advisory and civil capacity role.

With Iraqi Security Forces in the lead, the Highlander brigade reorganized its artillery battalion into Task Force Pathfinder, a unit focused on developing Iraqi civil capacity with the Provincial Reconstruction Teams. The PRTs are staffed by civilian experts in governance, economics, culture, agriculture, education, engineering and law. The U.S. State Department operates the Maysan and Muthanna PRTs, while the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs manages the one in Dhi Qar.

The PRTs are not new to Iraq. They have been working in the region for several years. The difference now is under the "advisory and assistance" brigade concept, nearly 600 Soldiers are assigned to support their efforts and extend their reach into more remote, outlying areas across a three-province area.

To accomplish this mission, Pathfinder Soldiers have undertaken a new job they have not necessarily been trained for. In fact, a roster was created within the task force to identify anyone with "special skills" as an attempt to seek out those with previous expertise in a trade or academic field.

"Our Soldiers have adapted extremely well to their new roles," said Lt. Col. Mike Eastman, commander, TF Pathfinder. "While this is very different from firing artillery, it highlights the intelligence and flexibility in our ranks today."

During lunch, Gates sought information on how the new role of U.S. Soldiers is measuring up. He asked the PRTs how this new unit has been able to help their efforts toward utilizing the Commanders Emergency Response Program.

Dr. Anna Prouse, team leader of the Dhi Qar PRT, said trusting the Army was met with "initial skepticism," but after the short time they've spent working together, she "could only welcome this increased role of the U.S. soldiers, seeing how beneficial it has already been in yielding faster results."

The Secretary of Defense said he was impressed with accomplishments of the Pathfinder Soldiers. "These guys are a bunch of artillery guys who, with five months of training before they got here, are taking on new missions and having a big impact," said Gates.

Filling gaps like this enables the PRTs to focus more closely on current projects in development. Understanding the large undertaking this new mission entails, Gates commended the Soldiers of TF Pathfinder and conveyed the importance of their role on the deployment. "Thank you for your service," said Gates. "What you are doing here is the next phase of our progress in Iraq."
 
Army Deployment , General
posted by  henry at  03:06 | permalink | trackbacks [953]



26 Jul 2009
R&R Advice
I talked to a lot of smart people both before deploying and in the early part of this Iraqi tour. I asked for their recommendations on mid-tour leave, also called Environmental Leave (EML, which does not stand for Emergency Leave!), or Rest & Recouperation (R&R). With the caveat that everyone's experience is different, I will share some truisms that I found useful.

  • Try to schedule your leave for the downslope: that is, after your tour midpoint. As much as you might want to avoid the military, the MWR and AFRC have some great destinations, pricing and priority for deployed families.

  • If you can, meet your family someplace away from home. The "distractions" of your home and hometown can not only interfere with reconnecting to your family, but also makes it so much harder to return to duty.

  • At the pre-leave briefings from the chaplain and mayor team, pay attention! This isn't just "check the block" training, it's real lessons-learned. There's some good advice about avoiding excess, taking it very easy with your family, recognizing that everyone has been changed by this experience, and that your family has adapted with new routines and discipline that you won't just pick up again. Make a real effort to be a "guest in your own house."

  • Plan one-on-one time with each family member, doing something special, just with them. Eric asked that we work out in the gym together. Ethan and I played at the arcade together. Plus lots of other small moments.

  • Make no mistake: going back to duty is HARD to do. Be prepared. Stay in touch with your family sharing & reliving the moments.

  • Start making plans for the end of tour redeployment. How will we reconnect at the end of the tour? Not just as a family, but with work, church, organizations, friends and extended family? This kind of planning is also a welcome distraction from being back in the war!

 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  04:42 | permalink | trackbacks [632]



15 Jul 2009
R&R Adventures!
Our time in Garmisch was nothing short of AWESOME! For a quick overview, see this little music video.


For more, I've uploaded a collection of over 340 photos to Picasa. I'll try to put a caption on each!
Garmisch Edelweiss
 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  15:07 | permalink | trackbacks [532]





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